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Sweden's
own M.ill.ion have seen many line-up changes since forming back in 1989.
They’ve also seen as many label changes since then too, however, they
seemed to have found both a permanent home at Majestic Rock Records and
a solid lineup.
Kingsize has quite an auspicious sound for a band that has fought their
way through the grunge era and survived without losing any of their
identity like many of the young bands that started back in the late
80's.
This album definitely has that European sound about it, a sound that we
Brits can’t copy. Whether it’s the accents, or the ability not
to get stuck in the corporate groove that most British band seem to be
stuck in at the moment, the heart of rock seems to have moved to the
continent and is keeping it alive and kicking.
The almost Deep Purple-esque keyboards in the intro to 'Eyes Of A King'
set the stall for what is a very impressive album indeed. A track
full of pace and vigour.
This continues with 'Backdoor Queen' as it hits you full in the face
like a lemon wrapped around a gold brick. With its grandiloquent
keyboards and thumping drum beat. Then 'Room No. 3' brings the
tempo down a notch but still retaining that heavy feel about it.
The pulsating power of 'Rock ‘N' Roll Nation' is a prime example of a
track, that only a band across the great divide that is the North Sea
can get away with, without losing and credibility. With a chorus
that simply demands you raise your horns aloft and sing out loud too.
The blistering pace of 'On And On' with its first few chords a mix of
Sabbaths 'Children of the Grave' and The Crue's 'Live Wire', it’s pure
metal thru and thru.
'Forbidden Fruit' shows the band in a mellow mood, as its simplistic
keyboards and soft string section make a welcome inclusion to the album,
and a complete change of pace from the rest of the album. Not resting on
their laurels it’s back to the heavier stuff with the menacing
'Zombies'.
The pace picks up once more with 'Fight You Forever' which
features some blistering guitar riffs. This is one of the
highlights of the album for me. 'Killing The Messenger' is another
master-class in songwriting and song concept with its twists and turns,
whereas 'Prison Of Power' is pure old school. Think Diamond Head
meets Pretty Maids.
The final track 'Those Eyes' brings those Deep Purple keyboards back to
the forefront, while the thumping rhythm section keep this track racing
along at a hectic pace. What a great way to end what is a gem of
an album!
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