COASTLAND RIDE - Coastland Ride +3 (2011-2012)

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Swedes COASTLAND RIDE, having signed with label Avenue Of Allies to release their recent second album On Top Of The World, have also re-issued at the very end of 2011 (December 19) their self titled debut album - which was originally put out by AORHeaven in 2003 - remastered and with bonus tracks.

Mixing rockin' AOR with the pure sound of Westcoast and more than hint of straight ahead Euro radio-rock music, Coastland Ride is an album crammed with hooks and sing along choruses that brings back memories of the great '80s.
With the pairing of Anders Rybank and Mikael Bohlin sharing guitar, keyboards and programming duties, the trio is completed by singer Markus Nordenberg, whose voice sits somewhere between the clarity of Bobby Kimball, the gruff charm of Treat's vocalist Robert Ernlund and the power of Grand Illusion pairing Peter Sundell and Per Svensson.

Surprisingly for a band who operate in a bright, breezy area of music, the lyrics from Coastland Ride can at times be of a serious and insightful nature, with "On The Path Of Greed", "The World Is Not Enough" and "Second Hand America" all making interesting comments on the world we live in.
The vocal delivery ensures that the weighty subject matter never sounds out of place alongside the upbeat and sunny disposition of the music.
"Let Me Let You Go" and "Sleepless" are excellent bursts of AOR, with the former being the more in your face variety while the latter is a poised and refined slower number.

Other hightlights on the album are the Talk Of The Town sounding AOR / Pop-rocker "On The Path Of Greed", the catchy melodic rock "Eyes" and the cool "Never The Same", featuring a Chicago feel over it with great harmony vocals and vintage keyboards.
"Heart To The Flame" is with the opening track one the best songs of the album. This is a pure AOR / Westcoast rocker with brilliant hooklines and a catchy chorus with powerful background vocals.
The "+3" referred to in the album title arrive in the shape of three bonus tracks from the original sessions, which follow in the same vein as the album itself, although the slightly darker atmosphere they bring does actually offer an interesting change of focus to this release.


Coastland Ride's debut originally didn’t reach a big audience due a poor promotion / distribution.
Hope this remastered re-issue finally do the justice that truly deserves, as it's a wonderful slice of melodious, elegant and refined Euro AOR in the vein of Talk Of The Tawn, T'Bell, Tommy Denander's Radioactive and Spin Gallery.
In addition to a significantly improved sound, the CD also includes three bonus tracks in the form of the unreleased songs "Jenny’s Heart", "The World Is Not Enough" and "Pitch Black Ride", all from the original recording sessions.
Fans of the lighter end of AOR and the 'Swedish sound' should get this one pronto.
Highly Recommended.

You've seen it first here, at zerodayrockz


01 - Let Me Let You Go
02 - On The Path Of Greed
03 - The Angels Must Missed A Turn
04 - Never The Same
05 - Second Hand America
06 - Hearts Of The Flame
07 - Believe In Me
08 - Eyes
09 - Sleepless
10 - Jenny's Heart (bonus track)
11 - The World Is Not Enough (bonus track)
12 - Pitch Black Ride (bonus track)

Markus Nordenberg - Lead & Background Vocals
Anders Rybank - Guitars, Keyboards, Bass, Programming
Mikael Bohlin - Guitars, keyboards, Programming
Per Stenvall - Guitar solo on “Believe in Me”
Anders Ringman - Guitar solo on “Eyes”
Tomas Coox - Rhodes piano on “Eyes”
Benka Jansson & Mikael Cederholm - Backing Vocals



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