Review: Turn Back Time – Maybe Tomorrow

Good Time Music – May 29^th, 2026

Reviewer – Chris O’Connor 

Some albums immediately remind you why the AOR and melodic rock genres continue to inspire such loyalty among their devotees. Turn Back Time‘s ‘Maybe Tomorrow‘ is one such release; a beautifully crafted collection of songs that captures everything that made the golden age of melodic rock so enduring while still sounding fresh and vibrant in the present day.

Turn Back Time is the musical partnership of lifelong friends Christer Green and Henrik Svedberg, two musicians from Borås whose shared love of classic ’80s AOR ultimately led to the creation of the project. Having played together since the early 1990s, the pair found themselves, like so many musicians, facing an unexpected pause when the 2020 lockdown brought live performances with their cover band to a halt. Rather than viewing the situation as a setback, they seized the opportunity to focus on original material, revisiting the melodic influences that had shaped their musical upbringing.

The results were immediate. Christer began writing and recording new songs, and by the spring of 2021 the duo had completed their debut single, ‘High’. Since then, Turn Back Time has evolved into a vehicle for their shared musical vision, with Christer handling the vast majority of the instrumentation while Henrik contributes vocals, keyboards, and invaluable creative input. Although the project remains fundamentally a duo, they are not afraid to call upon a select group of collaborators when the music demands it. On “Maybe Tomorrow”, vocal contributions from Ronnie Hagstedt, Peder Lundgren, and Henrik himself add further depth and variety to an already impressive collection of songs.

What immediately strikes the listener is the sheer quality of the musicianship on display. Smooth, sophisticated, elegant, and immaculately produced, ‘Maybe Tomorrow‘ feels like a love letter to the very best traditions of melodic rock. Every arrangement has been carefully considered, every instrumental passage serves the song, and the production possesses a warmth and clarity that allows the music to breathe naturally.

Fans of artists such as Toto, Higher Ground, and the more refined end of the melodic rock spectrum will find themselves instantly at home here. The album is filled with soaring melodies, tasteful keyboard textures, sumptuous harmonies, and guitar work that consistently impresses without ever becoming self-indulgent. In particular, Christer Green emerges as a remarkable talent. Not only is he an accomplished guitarist and keyboard player, but his ability to handle virtually every aspect of the music recalls the classic one-man-band approach pioneered by figures such as Tom Scholz during Boston’s formative years.

Ultimately, ‘Maybe Tomorrow‘ succeeds because it never mistakes polish for personality. Beneath the immaculate production and accomplished musicianship lies a collection of genuinely heartfelt songs performed by musicians who clearly understand and love the genre they inhabit. The result is an album that feels authentic, uplifting, and effortlessly enjoyable from beginning to end – a reminder that melodic rock, when executed this well, remains one of the most rewarding styles of music around.

There are moments throughout the album when you find yourself shaking your head in disbelief, simply to remind yourself that you are not listening to a long-lost Toto recording from the band’s golden era. Take ‘Girl Goodbye’ as an example; the resemblance is quite uncanny, and entirely delightful as a result. Elsewhere, ‘Turn Back Time’ arrives powered by a muscular riff, a huge chorus, and some superb lead guitar work, making it one of the album’s most immediate highlights. The title track settles into a wonderfully lilting groove, delivering the kind of effortless AOR magic that burrows into your subconscious and refuses to leave.

‘Faith’ is another standout moment, so authentically Toto-esque that you can almost imagine Steve Lukather himself fronting the song. It is a beautifully crafted piece of melodic rock that captures everything that made the genre so enduring in the first place. ‘Jennie In Love’ takes things in a slightly different direction, embracing a smooth West Coast feel that is effortlessly cool, subtly funky, and utterly irresistible. Finally, album closer ‘Josephine’ provides a fitting conclusion to the record, its understated elegance and melodic warmth bringing the album to a close in truly exquisite fashion. It is the perfect ending to a collection of songs that consistently reminds us why we fell in love with AOR in the first place.

In summary, ‘Maybe Tomorrow‘ is a magnificent celebration of everything that makes AOR and melodic rock such enduring genres. Combining impeccable musicianship, superb songwriting, glorious melodies, and production that positively sparkles, Turn Back Time have delivered an album that feels both lovingly nostalgic and refreshingly vital. Fans of Toto, Street Talk, Higher Ground, and the classic West Coast sound will find themselves instantly captivated. Elegant, sophisticated, and overflowing with musical class, this is not merely an enjoyable album – it is one of the finest melodic rock releases you are likely to hear this year.

Track list:

1. Dancing In The Rain
2. Turn Back Time
3. Maybe Tomorrow
4. Faith
5. Into The Light
6. Jennie In Love
7. High
8. Girl Goodbye
9. Don’t Offend Me
10. Josephine

Line-up:

Ronnie Hagstedt – Lead vocals (Tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)

Peder Lundgren – Lead Vocals (Tracks 2, 3, 7, 9)

Henrik Svedberg – Lead Vocals (Track 7)

Christer Green – guitars, bass, keyboards

Henrik Svedberg – keyboards

Morgan Lansford – bass

Mr. Easy – drums

Backing Vocals:
Henrik Svedberg, Christer Green, Ronnie Hagstedt, Kicki Malm, Peder Lundgren, Terese Arturen, Anna Birgenius, Josefine Green, Stephan Dahlin, Morgan Lansford, Robin Green.

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