Damned Nation - Grand Design

1. STONECOLD WOMAN (5.07)
The album starts off with this heavy rocker that although having a simple riff is pretty powerful. Thomas' vocals sound very strong and have a feel that is like a cross of Robert Mason and David Coverdale. The verse is quite restraint but kicks thanks to some solid drumming from Roger Jern. The chorus has that addictive quality to it - 'Stonecold Woman, can't get you outta my mind'. The solo is great and punches through the mix, their are a few licks that are reminiscent of John Sykes, Eddie Van Halen [whammy bar dips] and Vivian Campbell [in his Dio days]. The track ends with a simple ride out of the chorus but it's a great way to start the album.

2. HIDING FROM THE WORLD (4.53)
'Hiding..' sets off with a mean grooving bass line courtesy of Magnus that then progresses with volume swells from Robert Warnqvist before slamming in with the main riff - 'Don't let reality take you by surprise'. The lyrics are about how people tend to care more about mundane unimportant things rather than what really matters e.g. Pollution etc. The track is quite a departure from the normal Damned Nation sound thanks to some gritty backing vocals. The pre-chorus is divine - 'You got so much to live for, But you give it all away' - before an equally as compelling chorus. The track breaks down to a whisper for the bridge before roaring back into life with the solo that is pretty melodic, another great track.

3. HEART ON THE RUN (4.23)
The first track to make use of the direction employed throughout the best tracks on 'Road Of Desire'. 'Heart On The Run' sees a good hard rock verse mixed with a fine AOR style chorus that has a glorious melody if a little left-field. There's good use of textures throughout the track with piano, clean and dirty guitar all helping to build the track. Just before the solo a riff enters that is a extremely close to one from Van Halen's 'Pleasure Dome', but Robert obviously doesn't mind the similarity as he throws in a very Eddie-ish solo - I'll let you off this time lads. Despite this observation it is another impressive track.

4. FORTUNE TELLER (4.27)
A great heavy rock track that almost verges on power metal, some great guitar work at the start paves way for a gentle verse that you know is just going to get mad and indeed it does. The chorus could almost be 'Operation: Mindcrime' era Queensryche, and the lyrics are also reminiscent of early Queensryche - 'Lady white without warning, You got the power to see I really want to believe. Read my mind what's the future? Am I free to fly can you see kingdom come?'. The solo is wah drenched and again builds nicely. Towards the end of the track theirs some female backing vocals which add another slant. One of the highlights.

5. DESPERATE CALL (5.05)
The first ballad of the album and in my recent interview with Roger Jern he described this track as Damned Nation's take on Def Leppard and that sums it up perfectly. The arpeggio guitar motif at the start is reminiscent of the Lep's 'Hysteria', while the chorus sees the big multi-layered vocal approach and it works very well. The bridge brings back the patented Damned Nation sound while the solo is pure John Sykes with that great smooth even and wide vibrato - nice one Robert!! A great track that shows how much the band have matured recently.

6. EYES OF A STRANGER (4.00)
'Eyes Of A Stranger' is the heaviest track here and it certainly moves some dust! A great riff coupled with an original sounding chorus make the track stand out. I've read a few reviews that reckon the band sound a little stiff on the heavier numbers, well all I can say is I hear no such problems on the album at all! The track is absolutely chock-a-block with pulsating riffs, pounding drums, great vocals and guitar fills that would make George Lynch run and hide!! That's not to say the track is just all in-yer-face, no no, the chorus has a great melody and theirs a little calmness before the solo with some soothing keyboards, overall this track kicks some major ass and I love it!

7. HANDS OF TIME (3.46)
Another track that has varying degrees of light and shade, the first few seconds are calm before another metallic riff that punches you off axis. The verse sees the guitar drop out the mix allowing the drums and bass to create the backdrop before the chorus hits you with a sucker punch. The solo is another harmony melodic piece that has a DeGarmo/Wilton feel before a brief flurry of single notes. The chorus has some dark backing vocals that help add to the menacing feel and its another winner.

8. GOING CRAZY (4.55)
The pace slips off again for the second ballad that again is overflowing with catchy melodies, it pails when compared to 'Desperate Call' but then it is not in the Leppard vein. The track sort of has the feel of Whitesnake's 'Here I Go Again' but the vocal lines are more quirky, while the chorus is more akin to something by Mr. Big. The solo is another good addition to the track and Robert Warnqvist certainly displays a knack for playing what the track needs. A good track but probably my least favourite on the album.

9. SCREAM OF ANGER ( 5.02)
A track that is probably closest to the approach the band used on 'Road Of Desire', the track has more prominent keyboards than elsewhere but some interesting overtones that remind me of work by Marillion or even Rush. The solo sections are interesting with some rhythms that are out of the normal and gives the track its own voice.

10. LOVE REACTION (4.57)
This track blends the two genres of hard rock and AOR rather nicely. The main riff has a feel that reminds me off some obscure stuff by Whitford/St.Holmes from the early 80's while the verse firmly has its sights set on AOR glory. The chorus sees some more Leppard style backing vocals and someone who sounds similar to Mark Slaughter!! Again the musicianship is what is called for with each part adding to the track in a way that manages to aid it yet not suffocating it. The solo is another prime example of what Warnqvist is all about and is again well executed. Another solid track.

11. DANCE IN DARKNESS (5.10)
Some mystical sounds open the album before a clean guitar part, kind of like a cross of Dio's 'Holy Diver' and Whitesnake's 'Looking For Love' before Thomas' vocals wake you up from that bizarre thought! This track is quite superb and the haunting feel certainly adds a lot of atmosphere to the album. The chorus is heavier and reminds me of Tesla's darker work, the lyrics certainly reflect the dark feel - 'They sit around at the devils table smiling sleepless minds, She stands alone in the spotlight waiting for the feeling she knows so well'. A great moody solo sees that Sykes vibrato come into play and again it sends shivers down my spine. Another highlight that ensures the album ends as well as it started.