ART NATION – Transition (Album Review)

Art Nation - TransitionArt Nation – Art Never Sounded So Good!

The Swedish band Art Nation (awesome name) have become European big hitters on the melodic rock scene.

Art Nation was formed by Alexander Strandell in 2014. They got signed by AOR Heaven shortly thereafter and released the debut album Revolution in August 2015 to almost universal acclaim.

In early 2016, Art Nation signed a world wide deal with Sony Music/Gain and started working on their second album.

Liberation was released in April 2017 and was in my top ten for the year.

In the fall of 2017, after a summer of intense touring, the band underwent some fundamental changes. It was at that time that three members left the band and three new ones were recruited. The new line-up has now recorded the third album, appropriately title Transition.

Transition

Breakout the sunscreen!  The heat from this release will make you think you were back in the summer again.  2019 has been a bumper year for fantastic melodic rock albums with  X-Romance entrancing us with their Eighties vibe, Eclipse hitting us with Paradigm and now we get Art Nation.

Alexander Strandell (vocals), Christoffer Borg (guitar), Johan Gustavsson (guitar), Simon Gudmundsson (bass), Theodor Hedström (keyboards) and Carl Tudén (drums) make up the band.  The album this group has recorded seems somewhat heavier and more driving than Liberation from 2017 and this is great for the development of Art Nation.

The sound is melodic rock, but with a real European feel.  Furthermore, it has the great production and the infectious melodies that we have come to expect from bands from Europe.  The whole feel is of a band at the top of their powers.  The guitars tumble out from the speakers and the keyboards add a classy overlay to proceedings.  Meanwhile, Alexander Strandell has a strong unique voice that takes Art Nation into another dimension.

Created by solar fusion, you can close your eyes and feel the heat of a summer day when listening.  Strongest songs include the “Who We Are“, which has a driving garage-type feel and the a-Ha like “Tick Tock“.

The songs seem relatively simple.  However, the power and the passion seeps through every groove with an addictive cocktail of melody, harmony, and class.

Art Nation demonstrate that some transitions can be good!

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Coxy

Also, find more of my CGCM reviews here: Coxy

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