Grand Design really know how to take band appreciation to the next level.
"Time Elevation" is a fine album and all, but they are certainly not betting on their own sound to claw to recognition. Instead they have borrowed (stolen, lifted and snatched chunks of) "Pyromania". The "Pyromania" that saw
Def Leppard go from breakout NWOBHM band to super rock stardom. This occurred nearly 30 years ago, "Pyromania - the Sequel" never came to fruition (instead Def Lep did the even more outrageously popular "Hysteria" that landed a whole different formula entirely), and not many others successfully managed to mimic that sound in any kind of memorable fashion. So perhaps it was about time someone did this. Just don't call it a creative move or expect any out of the ordinary hijinks. This is pretty much solid rock that sees a bit of a glammy flair flouncing around now and then.
From the opening guitar riff of
"Love Sensation", the dagger-like electric sounds of 1983 (and backing gang vocals) is established loud and clear. The chorus is sharp as a tack, the feedback a retro-delight, and the whole mid tempo rock package is slick as can be. If there were left over tracks from the "Pyro" sessions, you can easily imagine this being one of them. Whipping out like "Earthshaker" Y&T and you-know-who is this full frontal hard rock assault of
"Slugged Out". The electric solo is pure 80s guitar hero flash. Sizzling smooth chorus, echos on the backing vocals fatten up the sound and give it a more dynamic richness.
"Air It Out" is fabulous, pure hard rock through and through, you can hear it's iron heart beating behind the gigantic chorus sounds and double guitar theatrics. It's a blood rush, brain number of a catchy track that nails the spirit from the past with the sheen of the presence.
"Piece of the Action" and
"No Time For Love" both have some
"Die Hard the Hunter" lurking around in their sound, most notably on
"No Time For Love".
Grand Design work it quite well.
"Sad Sound of Goodbye" has the ballad thing covered but not in any impressive manner, it is their big epic one and leaves you a bit cold.
"Love Will Know" on the other hand is straight up acoustic, and some raw, awkward vocal blunders. For a little something different is the eye rollingly titled,
"Sheik Iddup" (shake it up, yes we get the pun) is a sleazy bouncing little number that grabs the goods and peeks at the racks with its glammy rock overtones.
Grand Design mostly riffs on the Lep's, so we have to assume that the sequel to
"Time Elevation" will see them branching out into the grander melodic rock arena of "Hysteria". Strangely, the element that sets them apart from their emulated admired is the vocalist. He sounds far and away nothing like Joe Elliot. If they had popped a singer in here that sounded like him, the similarities would have been endless. But the foreign accented flavor of
Grand Design's behind-the-mic guy, Pelle Saether, gives them just enough of an individual touch. An entertaining disc if you ever wanted a "Pyro II", ignoring the blander bits tossed around towards the end. The front four are a pretty tough act to follow, after all.
Written by
Alanna Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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Well, may be this isn't very creative but actually lots of bands lives from the 80's sound... · Read more · |
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