During the years 2016-2018, Finnish melodic hard rock / AOR band WAKE THE NATIONS wrote and recorded material for their second album “Heartrock“, released by defunct AOR Heaven label, now a out of print CD. It features some of the best Melodic Hard Rock pros from Scandinavia, and songwriters also include Sören Kronqvist (Joe Lynn Turner / One Desire) and Thomas Wikström (Therion).
Mixing and mastering was conducted by the mighty Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse / W.E.T.), producers include Ilkka Wirtanen (Reckless Love / The Night).
The end result is a really strong, diverse melodic rock / AOR album with stadium rock and classic ’80s feeling. However, these guys from Finland deliver a quite unique sound & style. Think Human Temple or Free Spirit, yet more stylized, mature in arrangements. In one word; fresh.
All songs are very, very good but to mention a highlight you need to check out “Midnight Lovers”, simply one of the best Melodic Rock songs we heard for a while, an anthem with a killer chorus.
But dude, you can’t resist as well to the catchiness of ‘No Mercy’, the superb midtempo quality of ‘All My Life’, or the excellent ballad ‘Now You’re Gone’.
Do yourself a favor and don’t miss ‘Heartrock’, a fresh Melodic Rock / AOR record avoiding the cookie-cutter production, plenty of lovely melodies, choruses, keyboard flourishes and polished production.
HIGHLY Recommended
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. Something In Your Eyes
10. Higher
11. This Is Over
Wake The Nations – Heartrock 2019
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