Review: Grand Slam – A New Dawn

Escape (Feb 2016)

Reviewer: Peter Scallan

Grand Slam are another melodic rock band coming off the Swedish production line although they do offer some variation in sound and style from the ‘Scandi rock’ formula. They have been kicking around since 2007 in some form or other with the drummer being the only founding member left by the looks of it. However this is their debut album.

‘Light the Sky’ opens the album with some promising keys and piano before the rest of the band come crashing in and run through a pacey melodic rocker. Although a little generic, it is a reasonable start but the chorus lets it down a little. ‘Rock My World’ follows and follows a similar pattern to the opening track although the chorus is much stronger, albeit a little clichéd. The next song starts with a neat vocal intro but then moves quickly into that generic template established in the first two songs. Entitled ‘Face’, it does however offer some variation in style and beat. ‘One Way to Heaven‘ opens with great keyboard intro and some nice harmony guitars but again the generic template is in evidence, although I have to say I do like this song a lot as it has a good hook in the chorus. Next up is ‘Don’t Leave’, which for me is the best song on the album. Opening with a bluesy rhythm and guitar riff it drops down into slightly laid back verse and then builds into a great chorus.

‘Get High’ continues to move away from the template of the first songs and introduces more variation in sounds and style, although I am not that keen on the chanting vocals for the chorus. This is quickly followed by ‘Take Me Higher’ which opens which some nice lead guitar over keys. Probably the most melodic song on the album, it still has elements of that generic first half of the album. However, there is enough variation in the song to lift above the rest and would be a good candidate for a single. However, ‘Waiting for Tomorrow’ slips back more into the generic style of the first four songs, albeit it is delivered very and has a decent hook in the chorus. ‘I Wanna Live’ also opens with that generic style but the verse varies it enough and sounds a little like Loverboy in places, which saves it from being mediocre. The last song of the album is ‘Don’t Mess with Me’ which also offers up something a little different in terms of sounds, structure and feel and is up there with Don’t Leave. In terms of the structure and variation it reminds a little of Kansas/Streets and closes the album positively.

This is one of those albums that comes across your desk for review where you are never quite sure where to pitch the review. Despite numerous listens for me there is too much generic material on the album to wax lyrical about it. However, there are some really promising songs which show exactly what these could be capable of as they sound fairly accomplished in terms of musicianship. Songs such as Don’t Leave, Get High and especially Don’t Mess with Me show the potential these guys could have. If you like 80’s melodic rock then this is worth exploring on that basis and I look forward to seeing how the band develops for the next album.