| Musical Style: Melodic Hard Rock | Produced By: Thobias Wiklund |
| Record Label: XTC Productions AB | Country Of Origin: Sweden |
| Year Released: 2020 | Artist Website: Thobias Wiklund |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 50:01 |
Summer of 2020 marks Swedish guitarist Thobias Wiklund’s third at bat with his XTC Productions AB sophomore solo album Playing Loud. First includes debut solo offering To Remember The Forgotten (released on TW Music) from 2015, which broke down (four songs each) between AOR infused melodic hard rock vocal cuts to feature veteran front man Peo Pettersson (Leviticus) and classically influenced instrumentals. Second, 2017 debut Peace In Our Hearts from his band Nozanopra, also trended melodic hard rock territory but with a strong progressive basis while mixing Eastern melodies and rhythms through the use of a Turkish stringed instrument called the Saz. Pettersson and Chris Lanto shared vocal duties.
Playing Loud picks up where To Remember The Forgotten leaves off by also breaking down between melodic hard rock vocal numbers and instrumentals, with seven of the former and two latter. Album finds Wiklund literally surrounding himself with an all-star cast of musicians. It begins with co-lead vocalists in Pettersson, whom in addition to fronting two tracks mixed and mastered the album along with contributing piano and Moog synthesizer, and Goran Edman, of the impressive resume from having previously worked with John Norum and Yngwie Malmsteen. It also encompasses how Chris Lanto returns but on keyboards, while Richard Holmgrem (Wolf, Grand Design) handles drums.
Of the vocal pieces, Pettersson furnishes his signature mid-ranged but gritty and soulful style to “The Forgotten Kingdom” and “Breaking The Rules”. Former impresses as mid-tempo melodic rock with a pronounced low end to feature flowing backing vocals and galloping rhythms galore. Artist cuts loose with a riveting lead guitar run. Latter highlights an upbeat form, giving prominence to a more pronounced keyboard mix (noting the keyboard solo to start) but also a perfectly placed jazzy bass line (sort of like Ronnie König of Signum Regis). Impression is direct but easy going at the same time.
Edman contrasts with a higher-end, classic tenor vocal delivery. He stretches and reveals the full breadth to his voice on “Fighting To The End”, a scintillating melodic hard rocker to touch upon power metal with its neo-classical vibe and extended run of elegant soloing, and “We Will Rock”, anthem like with its heavier (and every bit classically influenced) metal guitar edges and catchy hooks galore. Both cuts draw upon the best elements of early Narnia and Stryper (Edman is more than a match for Christian Liljegren and Michael Sweet!).
“Life Must Change” separates as albums fastest. Not speed metal but expeditious nonetheless, starting to an expansive falsetto and another jazzy bass line prior to high-energy manifest and charging rhythms carrying its distance. An epic flair almost comes to the forefront. Also of an agile form is “Mercy”, starting slowly to church organ only to take off to a plethora of driving momentum as catchy vocal melodies and added hints of organ lend an atmospheric feel. The blistering lead guitar cannot help but draw you in. Innate to the two is the albums lush production to feature an ample low end but also cleanly allowing guitars and keyboards to stand out.
Rating among albums finest is six-minute ballad “Turn Back The Time”. Yes, it is lighter in comparison with a seventies classic rock edge, revealed in its emotional acoustic vestiges and elevated (but quite flattering) keyboard presence. Song, however, is not all relaxed in that periodically forthright rhythm guitars impel to the front of the mix. A beautiful melody serves to tie everything together.
Wiklund, of course, exhibits his licks and chops on albums two instrumental tracks. Musically, artist eschews any eighties instrumental shred trappings in favor of a ‘song orientated’ approach to the genre, a point I reinforced in my 80% review to Remember The Forgotten.
“Lost In A Dream” follows suit in gradually fading in before proving a harmony driven monster, divulging of luxurious melodies, acoustic passages playing a tempering role and another classically influenced bass line. “Feelings To Explain” takes a similar melodically driven form but slower with an additional acoustic presence and heavier as leading rhythm guitar plays an arresting role. If you like most recent Angelica album Without Words from 2019 I can see you embracing the two.
At end of the album you will find ‘radio edits’ of “Turn Back The Time” and “We Will Rock” in a more condensed three minute range each as opposed to the six and five minute times afforded the originals, respectively.
As a reviewer, I am always encouraged by the growth artists make from one album to the next, and such is the case with Thobias Wiklund and his sophomore solo offering Playing Loud. He continues to build upon strengths in the areas of consistent songwriting, solid production and topnotch guitar playing. At the same time, little doubt is left as to the ability of the performers he has sounded himself with, particularly when factoring Pettersson and Edman. Constructive commentary is few and between but encompasses including one or two more songs (at the very least a third instrumental), packaging to include lyrics and a title more original than Playing Loud. In the end, if a fan of the artist’s previous work or the styles presented, then I recommend making Playing Loud a necessary purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Fighting To The End” (4:16), “The Forgotten Kingdom” (3:59), “We Will Rock” (5:12), “Turn Back The Time” (6:08), “Lost In A Dream” (4:22), “Mercy” (4:49), “Breaking The Rules” (4:44), “Life Must Change” (4:54), “Feelings To Explain” (4:38), “Turn Back The Time” (radio edit) (3:14), “We Will Rock” (3:32)
Musicians
Thobias Wiklund - Guitars, Bass & Keyboards
Goran Edman - Lead Vocals
Peo Pettersson - Lead Vocals, Piano & Moog Synthesizer
Chris Lanto - Keyboards
Richard Holmgren - Drums
