Wake The Nations - Heartrock

[Stefan]

Press release:

Heart-shaped rock from Finland! The second album of Wake the Nations (WTN) is loaded with fresh AOR tracks containing a twist of the 80’s melodic hard rock.

In 2009, Risto Tuominen got interested in a band that was being established by Janne ‘Gekko’ Granfors: a grunge-type of band with Krister Stenbom on the lead vocals, Tuomas Pelli on drums, and Gekko on guitar. They were after a bass player, but since Risto came along, Gekko took the bass guitar. A hard rock band ‘Villa Sucka’ was formed. They wrote songs actively and recorded an EP during the spring of 2010. In the same year, Risto got recruited to a melodic rock/AOR band ‘Human Temple’. Gekko soon followed him. In those times, Jori ‘Jorge’ Tojander was the keyboard player of Human Temple. 

As Human Temple was having a break, Risto decided to start recording his solo album in 2012. During the past years, he had written some songs that were never published. Risto asked Jorge, Gekko and Kalle Saarinen, all from Human Temple, to help him with the record. Also, Tuomas got an enquiry whether he could join. Initially the idea was to record already written songs just for his own sake, with good quality. But things got more and more ambitious... Risto came up with a thought of ‘Wake the Nations’ project band. Janne Hurme (Human Temple) and Petri Kitti (Violent Code) permitted him to record two of their songs as well, and so the album became to form an entity of its own.

It took a year to fine-tune the songs. When it was time to record the vocals, Risto wasn't confident enough to do it himself. So, he began to search for proper singers. In 2013, he found Estef Martinez (Insider) from Ecuador, Dado Topić (Time) from Croatia, Taage Laiho (Kilpi), and Nils Nordling (Silver Bullet). Janne Hurme and Krister Stenbom were invited also. In addition, Timo Pelander (Finlanders) played guitars and Jari Pailamo (King Company) keys on some tracks. ‘Sign of Heart’ was born in January 2015. The album got its way to the top-50 of the official Finnish chart in the first week after release.

The band did not have a fixed front man and they were not supposed to tour anyways. But as a one-time-occasion, they played at album release party, it became evident that WTN would continue playing for live audience. Soon Krister joined the band and WTN hit bigger stages. Live performance in DBTL festival 2015 was a turning point: WTN opened for Sunrise Avenue and got some international interest after their show. Ever since, the band have been playing numerous gigs: for instance, they have toured Germany numerous times and supported Swedish metal act Dynazty during their ‘Titanic Mass’ tour in Finland. These guys are known not only for their music, but also energetic and positive attitude which is present on and off stage.

During the years 2016-2018, WTN wrote and recorded material for ‘Heartrock’. It was done in cooperation with some of the best melodic hard rock professionals in Scandinavia. For instance, writers also include gurus as Sören Kronqvist (Joe-Lynn Turner/One Desire) and Thomas Wikström (Therion), mixing and mastering was conducted by the almighty Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse/W.E.T.), producers include Ilkka Wirtanen (Reckless Love/The Nights). The end result being a solid yet diverse melodic AOR album with stadium rock sounds, a hint of the 80’s, and interesting stories of life and love.

 

www.facebook.com/WakeTheNations

 

Tracklist: 

1. No Mercy

2. Tattooed Girl

3. Midnight Lovers

4. All My Life

5. Fallen Angel

6. Now You’re Gone

7. New Day

8. Flames

9. Somehting In Your Eyes

10. Higher

11. This Is Over

 

Soundbytes:

'Fallen Angel'

'Midnight Lovers'

'No Mercy'

 

 

[Tabe]

Digging that first track, want to hear more, that's for sure.

[Geoff]

Good stuff. Any release date info at all? 

[Stefan]

3 hours ago, Geoff said:

Good stuff. Any release date info at all? 

 

January 25th.

[PeterS]

Nice start to the New Year. Some really good songs on here. 

[Mafisen]

Gone through this once and I'll sure be going back. Good stuff. 

[Glen]

didn't do much for me.

Too many average songs and I don't like the singer.

[PeterS]

I still like it but whatever vodka they drink up there it does seem to make all the sound pretty similar. It's a sound I like though so enjoyable to these ears. 

[tts42572]

4 hours ago, Glen said:

didn't do much for me.

Too many average songs and I don't like the singer.

I'm with you on this one.

Decent sound but I just don't like the vocals and nothing really grabbed me.

 

[lettard]

I don't mind it nor his vocals,the last track on it "This Is Over" is pretty good.

[Stefan]

New lyric video.

 

 

[Invisible_man]

good stuff, engaging songs.

[Dead Planet]

Rather average to these ears...and yes the vocals aren't quite right....

[Invisible_man]

21 minutes ago, Dead Planet said:

Rather average to these ears...and yes the vocals aren't quite right....

you think the new Whitesnake is a "definite pickup" and yet you find this average... I guess to each his own, but I think even with weaker vocals any song on this record is better than that new Whitesnake single

[Dead Planet]

3 hours ago, Invisible_man said:

you think the new Whitesnake is a "definite pickup" and yet you find this average... I guess to each his own, but I think even with weaker vocals any song on this record is better than that new Whitesnake single

As a longtime Whitesnake fan who owns everything they have put out and been quite happy with all of it, it is an easy decision for me to pick up any new releases, as for this band...unknown=average=nope....they are not a bad band but I can't afford to pick up every cd that comes out...

[Geoff]

It's a good, solid album, but just missing the highlights for me. I like 'Midnight lovers' and 'All my life' a bit better than the rest, but it's all still just good, rather than great. 

Entirely listenable, but it will be forgotten soon.