The proclaimed “Norse God of Metal” is at it again after a three year hiatus, and his newest solo effort, Bring Heavy Rock To The Land (insert slight groan for the title here), brings just as much rockin’ and lyrical ability a fan would expect from Jorn Lande.
With 30 years of making metal music under his belt, you know Jorn means business and is dedicated to his craft. Not only does he have his solo career, the heavy rock vocalist has led such bands as Masterplan, Ark, Millenium, and The Snakes.
“My Road” starts Bring Heavy Rock To The Land slowly, but builds anticipation. The title track does just what it’s supposed to, with some awesome guitar solos and hard-hitting drums. Guitarist Tore Moren and bassist Nic Angileri will no longer be performing with Jorn as they are working on solo projects, but luckily, listeners get to enjoy their pure talent on BHRTTL.
“A Thousand Cuts,” at an impressive eight minutes long, showcases what Jorn is known for- his remarkable vocal skill. His vocal range, while not the largest ever, is on point throughout each song. The ever so slight gravelly nature of his voice gives edge to the smooth quality of his voice that metal vocalists need. “Ride Like the Wind” is a cover of the Christopher Cross classic from the 70’s with a hard rock twist. Jorn is still able to stay on top with his vocals in the power ballad, “Black Morning,” which slows things down a notch. But if you think he’s going out on a soft note, think again. The final song, “I Came to Rock,” takes Bring Heavy Rock To The Land out on Jorn’s melodic vocals riding on neat guitar licks leaving the listener wanting more.
Jorn is back, giving fans what they expect and love. And with a career spanning three decades, I wouldn’t expect to see Jorn stopping anytime soon.
Key Tracks: Chains Around You, A Thousand Cuts, I Came to Rock
July 10, 2012
