Review: Alien – Live At Sweden Rock Festival

Pride & Joy Music – April 24^th, 2026

Reviewer – Chris O’Connor

Few Scandinavian AOR/Melodic Rock acts are held in quite as high a regard as Sweden’s Alien, long-time purveyors of some of the most timeless and evocative melodic rock you’re ever likely to hear. Last year saw band cornerstones Jim Jidhed (vocals), Tony Borg (guitars), and Toby Tarrach (drums) return with the superb ‘When Yesterday Comes Around‘ – an album I had the pleasure of reviewing – and on June 4^th, after a fifteen-year absence, they made a triumphant return to the Sweden Rock Festival, delivering a glorious main stage performance. Thankfully, that electrifying set has been captured here as ‘Live At Sweden Rock Festival‘, preserving the magic of a truly special night.

Alien’s current line-up is rounded out by Fredrik Karnell (bass), Mikael Bäck (keyboards), and backing vocalists Jonathan Jaarnek Norén and Kajsa Borg, forming a unit as powerful as it is cohesive. Across an eleven-song set, the band deliver a masterclass in AOR craftsmanship, performing with a confidence and authority that underlines exactly why they remain so revered. The setlist reads like a greatest hits collection: ‘In The End We Fall’, ‘If Love Is War’, ‘Go Easy’, ‘Brave New Love’, ‘Only One Woman’, ‘Night Of Fire’, ‘I Belong To The Rain’, ‘Tears Don’t Put Out The Fire’, ‘Dying By The Golden Rule’, and ‘Touch My Fire’ – each track a reminder of the band’s enduring songwriting prowess.

From the very first note, Alien are welcomed as conquering heroes. There is an undeniable sense of occasion here – a homecoming in the truest sense – and the chemistry between band and audience is palpable throughout. This is not something that can be manufactured; the joy radiating from the stage feels utterly genuine, and the crowd responds in kind, roaring their approval with heartfelt enthusiasm. It’s the kind of performance that makes you wish you’d been there to witness it firsthand.

At the centre of it all, Jim Jidhed is in magnificent voice, delivering a performance that is both powerful and deeply expressive. He navigates the material with effortless grace, blending strength with soul, nowhere more evident than on the sublime ‘Only One Woman’, where he channels the spirit of Steve Perry at his most impassioned and pure. Meanwhile, Tony Borg unleashes a series of dazzling fretboard flourishes, once again demonstrating just how criminally underrated he remains as a guitarist. Mikael Bäck also deserves special mention, his keyboards adding rich layers of texture and atmosphere that elevate the overall sound to even greater heights.

If there is a minor quibble to be had – and it truly is a small one – it’s the complete omission of material from ‘Shiftin’ Gear‘. Granted, Jim Jidhed was not involved with that album, but its absence is still faintly felt. That said, it does little to detract from what is otherwise a near-flawless live document. The band’s sound is captured in all its unfettered power, the production capturing every nuance of this powerful performance.

‘Live At Sweden Rock Festival‘ is a resounding success: a vibrant, energetic, and emotionally resonant snapshot of a band firing on all cylinders. It captures everything that makes Alien – and the AOR genre itself – so special. This is an album I will return to often, and one that no fan of melodic rock should overlook. Miss it at your peril – this is is  well … unmissable.

Track List: 

1. Introduction
2. In The End We Fall
3. If Love Is War
4. Go Easy
5. Brave New Love
6. Only One Woman
7. Guitar Solo
8. Night Of Fire
9. I belong To The Rain
10. Tears Don’t Put Out The Fire
11. Dying By The Golden Rule
12. Touch My Fire

Line-up:

Jim Jidhed – Vocals

Tony Borg – Guitars

Toby Tarrach – Drums

Additional musicians:

Fredrik Karnell – Bass

Mikael Bäck – Keyboards

Jonathan Jaarnek Norén – Backing Vocals

Kajsa Borg – Backing Vocals

Web Links:

Official Website

Facebook

Instagram

Spotify