Mafisen

How so? Doesn't it try to send a message? I like that in song lyrics. And Trump is a huge problem not only for the US but the world.

Sounds great. Really looking forward to this.

The new album is finally out. It's been a long 8 years since their latest effort, The Great Escape, but what a "comeback". Not too much and not too little prog, just the right amount, or "lagom" as we say in Sweden. What there is an abundance of though, is great melodies and choruses. And great musicianship of course. Sublime album.

On the issue of old albums, the 1992 album with Mats Levén on vocals is a really good Treat album. Can't get hold of it anywhere though.

I rate it 5 out of 6. It's diverse, great vocals, riffing is fine too and there are several songs that have gone on my best of 2018 playlist.

I don't get this notion that things have to be original and new to be considered worthy, and where predictably and staying true to a sound is frowned upon. If it's good it's good, even if the sound has been the same on 100 albums. I actually admire artists like Mårtensson and Axel Rudi Pell. They have found their sound and stick with it. Erik Mårtensson is a tune penning Boy Wonder. He has his sound and I'm glad he's sticking with it. Because of Us is one hell of a song. So what if it's unoriginal.

I feel a bit bad to say this, and maybe it was my fault that I was disappointed, because my expectations were all wrong, but Gary Moore at Sweden Rock Festival in the early 2000's was boring. It was after he went back to the blues but I went to the gig hoping to hear the hard rock classics. It was all blues though so I left 2/3 in to the gig.

Snobs.

Seen some reviews on other sites that give this 1 or 2 out of 5. Then I start reading the first posts in this thread and I start to question my taste. Because I absolutely love this album. Not a weak track on it. Love the keyboards too. The vocals are out of this world. The choruses are huge! One of my top 3 albums this year. If I have to choose my favourite songs I'm going to pick In the Arms of a Devil, Follow Me, Ascension and Let Me Dream Forever. But all the songs are great. It's not often I play an album from start to finish without skipping a track or two, but this one I do. Great fucking stuff.

2nd song is a belter. I've been a casual listener to these guys before, and quite like a few songs. Never did any in depth listen though. Maybe I have missed out.

I went to see Billy Idol in Gävle, Sweden on the 25th. I had a blast. I thought the setlist was excellent. For the casual listener, maybe it was a long wait for the hits, but if you had made just a little effort to listen to his back catalogue, you would have appreciated the whole gig. I think he has a treasure trove of songs, beyond the famous hits. The setlist was: Shock to the System Dancing With Myself Daytime Drama Can't Break Me Down Twenty Flight Rock L.A. Woman Scream Catch My Fall Eyes Without a Face Guitar Solo by Steve Stevens Don't Need a Gun King Rocker Blue Highway Rebel Yell Encore: White Wedding Drum Solo Mony Mony I would've loved Cradle of Love in there and John Wayne, Speed, Whiskey and Pills etc etc, but if I were to have my way, the gig would have been 30 songs long. A special mention goes to Steve Stevens. What an incredible guitar player.

Wasn't blown away the couple of times I've listened to it. I'll give a few more tries.

I really like the vocals. He's got a warm tone at times and a pretty good range.

The song Glow is a marvellous tune. It's in my top 3 of 2018 so far.

That is an appalling album cover.