Jorn - Worldchanger

Jorn Lande's voice has become a familiar yet unpredictable friend these past few years. Jumping between bands, always putting every bit of himself within each stellar performance, constantly improving and delivering a steady comforting amount of quality with each release has allowed him to become not only one of the most acclaimed and brightest in the scene, but also given him the opportunity to climb the ladder of success in the upper echelon of singers in any genre. That's hefty praise for someone that was a relative unknown just a scant four or five years ago, and shows just how hard this man has worked to achieve the acclaim he has earned today.

Lande is definitely an amazement. One of a kind, yet a chameleon of sorts, both sides which he likes to flaunt extensively. This is natural afterall, the buzz began when he showed up under the name "Johnny Lande" performing olden Whitesnake tunes from back when the band walked more in the shadow of the blues than with hair that reached for the sky. He did David Coverdale better than ol' Covey could do himself, transporting the listener back to the raw seductive youthfulness of a hopeful upstart singing his heart out for Blackmore and quarreling friends in Deep Purple. His voice was the sound of passion, with the ability to tap the soul of the blues and bring it to a lovely form with a new pulse fluttering beneath. This rare yet wonderful talent is honed to a sharper and more personal extent with his solo work as Jorn attempts to combine his many sounds into one surprise package that embraces his wild, savage side and that blues brushed core which brought him to the forefront of attention back in the Moody & Marsden supported outfit, The Snakes.

"Starfire" showed where Lande was going, offering us a look at his past in the listenable form of a variety of cover songs and a glimpse at a promising future with a smattering of brand new work all composed by him. "Starfire" was an outlet for a fledgling singer still trying to standout from being not just a hired gun but a worthy solo artist in his own right. "Worldchanger" is the next evolution, a peek into where he stands in the industry today and still hinting at a much richer future that has not been quite realized yet, for there is still much potential that remains untapped. The songs for the new album show a leap in progression from the solo debut, with more complex structures and memorable melodies, two essential ingredients in the fine art of building a track that is remarkable. The musicianship is also more fluid this time out, a tighter band performing excellently, creating vibrant soundscapes for the lead vocals to confidently frolick in.

01.] "Tungur Knivur"
A gust of wind, the sound of waves, a raven's unsettling call and an incoming storm on the horizon... The slow and almost cumbersome beginning is shattered by slivers of slick guitar sliding in with ominious ease. Edgier and more extreme, I would venture to say this is one of the heaviest, hardest hitting packages that Lande has lent his skills to thus far in his career. The riffs strike like shards of glass, slicing with finely sharp pinpoints that prick the darkly churning background until you can almost feel the scarlet lifeforce oozing down. Vocals are also hard edged and violent, fervrent and forceful like a fever dream or bloody nightmare. This definitely leaves a mark that persists until the album's completion.

02.] "Sunset Station"
Warm rounded syrupy vocals crushed over the top of a sizzling, free flying melodic fantasy create one of the most pointedly addictive tracks that I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. It is one of those songs that unknowingly infests your mind, slowly spreading and taking over until it overcomes your every thought and hearing it, the most prime desire. Lande's voice is rich and gorgeous, a performance that is absolutely flawless, yet its the song structure itself that brings one back time after time, with tiny nuances that make the difference between average and groundbreaking. The chorus is an exercise in superiority with its giddy, oxygen starved feel, but its the delicious delectible delight of the bridge into it that is the very essence of pure bliss, leaving the listener gasping for air in its whirlwind build and quick release. Unknown guitarist Tore Moren is highly underrated and provides an array of biting solos and tornado swirling rhythm riffs that whisk the listener on a fast ride through the finely celestial dusting of starlight. Twists and turns galore coupled with electric guitarwork that is a subtle delight and a melody that calls for celebration adds up to one hell of a spectacular track.

03.] "Glow in the Dark"
Fierce electric flames lap menacingly onto the somber shore...a soul searching journey through the varying shades of that which is opaque and hidden or etched with a glowing, briefly hopefilled light. With its harsh seasoning and raging abrasive grit, this one delivers a thick lashing when not soaring on the slower, reflective chorus. Similiar in feel to the rough but emotionally weighted one-off Coverdale/Page project, but cranked to eleven on the blistering side.

04.] "House of Cards"
Taking us back to the days of the blatant brilliance of The Snakes is this genuine piece of bluesy work that is a wonderous platform for Lande's naturally expressive, ever changing voice, glowing with self assurance. Melting on the sides, the two ends are pushed together creating a soft middle with a uniquely flowing form and yearning sides that silently cry with writhing sorrow. But within the depths of this soft plyable depression is a core of sharply contrasting anger, and an expansive wasteland of desperate hopelessness. Lande dons his best Coverdale undertones and drives it home with an earth moving passion.

05.] "Bless the Child"
If you can survive the opening onslaught then you can probably stick it out throughout the remainder of this demon infiltrated stronghold of a tune with its searing vocal antics, treated or in its purity, that could melt flesh and cause involuntary nerve spasms all without seeing Jorn break the slightest sweat. The frantic 'from beyond the abyss' drumwork and precise axe slinging combine to split the structure's spine in two. A pounding orgy of sound that is tight in form but relentless in its darkened pursuits. The kind of darkness that swallows the soul and consumes all rational thought processes. Torturous beatings have never been so lavishly filled with blissfully guilty pleasure. Fists to the air...tighten the chains...polish your pentagram...now all together now... "METHUL!!"

06.] "Captured"
Pain streaked with a muddled clarity, the acoustic caressing vividly stark against the fight to keep from losing one's self in the layers of slipping sanity. Confusing reality, religion, and emotion, the song draws upon a delusionary strength, the instrumentation callously sapping the life from the vocals which rapidly deteriorate into a fading abstract form, finally losing it all and disappearing out into nothingness.

07.] "Worldchanger"
Splattering synthesizer keys step aside for flashes of rhythm guitars resonating with their own cutting sound. The chorus kicks in for a welcome breather from the pummeling heaviness of the past few tracks. Despite the spiked edges that are smoothed over only for the chorus and expansive bridge sections, it retains a liquid pacing flowing into the hands of progression, all in a style similiar to "Starfire" from Lande's solo unveiling, although not quite of the same high caliber. Is it just a vehicle to show yet another transformation of Lande? Yes and no, for there are plenty of standout moments from this song. In its struggle to earn its wings, the song thrashes about with a few heart stopping sections. Feathers sprout, soft and lovely, beating faster and more self assured as the song spirals down the progressive pathways, finally launching into the glory of first flight.

08.] "Christine"
Some might argue this short and sweet ode to a love interest is one of the standout highlights from the album, and I just think I might have to agree. One of the harsher love songs that have been heard in sometime, don't let the sentiment blind you and setup false expectations for this is definitely one killer little hard rock track. Its as delicate as a wild beast from the gate of hell ravaging on earthly soil. A twist that catches one offguard is the line "Christine I can't let go", which is sung with a dead-on impression of Foreigner's Lou Gramm. Amazing.

09.] "Bridges Will Burn"
Masquerading by nightfall as a wickedly heavy Black Sabbath-ish track, but roaming the daytime hours dressed in the sheer, billowing whisper of hope, this one eagerly embraces its two distinct sides and wars internally for the location of its destination. The doomsday plodding bows out for a slick, spark inducing melodic chorus that doesn't lose its touch with the weighty, burdened, heart of the rock. The rousing conclusion sees Jorn taking us "higher and higher", stirring a triumphant wash of emotions, previously held fast within for a startling cataclysmic end that fades in musical structure. The blink of silence that signals the finale is unexpectedly pierced with a strange concoction of weirdness...violin, spooky sound effects straight out of a B quality horror movie and the cat's meow. Literally.

His fourth appearance for 2001 turned out to be one of his best. The Nostradamus performance might have had more emotion, Beyond Twilight wallowed in more personal indulgence, and Ark stretched his boundaries a little further, but "Worldchanger" is definitely Lande's own. That being, a product of his own dreams, musical aspirations and influences. A combination of a wide variety of styles from his career, dabbling in a little bit of everything and pulling them all off with equal style. The production is fairly full, but lacks some of the power and punch it could have had, but is still a respectable mix overall that lends itself well with the musical type. Despite the album's ever changing sound, it manages to seamlessly flow together with the same kind of natural feel that "Starfire" had. A well rounded song selection with tightened structures and striking performances add up to yet another killer talented trip for Lande. A must have for anyone who enjoys heavier European hard rock.

Ratings and Wrap Up:
9.0
Songs - 8.5, Performance - 9.5, Production - 8.6, Lyrics - 8.2
Hot Spots: "Sunset Station", "Tungur Knivur", "House of Cards"
Bottom Line: Another triumph for Lande becomes a joy for anyone that loves this musical style.

Review by Alanna Evans -

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