Nationwide – Echoes

Pride & Joy Music (October 18^th 2024)

Reviewer: Chris O’Connor

Nationwide’s ‘Echoes’ is a stunning debut that bridges the gap between classic AOR/Melodic Rock and Modern Rock. This highly anticipated album is set to drop on October 18, 2024, through Pride & Joy Music. If you love quality Scandinavian rock music, then it absolutely should be on your ‘must have’ list this month.

Formed last year by long-time friends and seasoned songwriters Carl Berglund and Peter Ledin, Nationwide is the culmination of their lifelong dream—to create a band that merges the best of classic AOR with the energy and innovation of modern Rock. With ‘Echoes’, they have delivered something truly remarkable that promises to leave a lasting imprint on the much-loved genre.

The band’s line-up is nothing short of spectacular. Berglund and Ledin have recruited a powerhouse rhythm section with bassist Mikael Hagström (formerly of Age of Reflection) and drummer Richard Holmgren (ex-Scaar/Grand Design/Wolf), creating a rock-solid foundation for their soaring melodies and intricate arrangements.

The crown jewel of Nationwide’s sound is the addition of vocalist Daniel Groth, whose voice instantly proved to be the perfect match for the band’s vision. Groth’s rich, emotive tones add depth, colour, and nuance to every track, completing the musical artwork Berglund and Ledin began crafting in their early songwriting sessions.

Recorded and produced by Berglund at Studio RainRoom in Västerås, Sweden, and expertly mixed and mastered by Erik Martensson of the legendary ECLIPSE, ‘Echoes’ stands as a testament to the band’s dedication to quality and craftsmanship. The production is crisp, polished, and powerful, with Martensson’s renowned touch adding a layer of brilliance that elevates every song to new heights.

Now, it should be noted that the opening guitar riff on album opener ‘Fade Away’ has been (presumably unintentionally) lifted from ‘Wild Child’ by W.A.S.P. but that aside, what you have here is original and superbly crafted Scandi-Rock, awash with luscious melodies and muscular guitars – in other words, the perfect formula for timeless AOR/Melodic Rock for this third decade of the twenty-first century.

At its heart, Nationwide is a band that understands the universal refuge that music provides. The band has embraced the idea that music knows no boundaries—it transcends borders, it speaks to us all. ‘Echoes’ embodies this ethos perfectly, delivering an album that is not only an homage to the Melodic Rock tradition but is also a bold step forward. Nationwide has created an album that should resonate with rock fans everywhere. If ‘Echoes’ is any indication, this is just the beginning of what promises to be a remarkable musical legacy.

 Tracklist: 

1. Fade Away
2. Dreams
3. Can’t Get Over You
4. Without You
5. In Your Eyes
6. Passion Ignite
7. Echoes
8. The One
9. The Last Goodbye
10. Reason
11. The Other Side

Line-up: 

Carl Berglund: Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals

Daniel Groth: Lead Vocals, Keyboards

Peter Ledin: Guitar, Backing Vocals

Richard Holmgren: Drums, Backing Vocals

Mikael Hagström: Bass, Backing Vocals

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