Is Norwegian singer Jorn Lande perpetually pregnant? Seems like it, as he delivers a new “baby” every nine months or so! Since 2006 he’s issued four new studio discs, a pair of Greatest Hits CDs, another two covers records and two live offerings, and that’s just as a solo artist under the “Jorn” banner, not to mention a second stint fronting MASTERPLAN and a couple of ALLEN/LANDE collaborations with the SYMPHONY X singer! Rather than come screaming out of the speakers, a lone, ethereal sustained synthesizer note is gradually joined by acoustic guitar, the lone instrument to accompany the vocalist throughout the ‘My Road’ opener. The title track follows, yet still at a tepid pace (at best). The lengthy ‘A Thousand Cuts’ gets into the bluesy mood Jorn inhabits so well. Not sure why he felt he needed to cover the Christopher Cross hit ‘Ride Like The Wind’ (didn’t do anything for SAXON either). Speaking of 70s artists, it’s not just the long hair & mustache, but this collection of rock tunes (definitely not metal) conjures the emotional impact found in Bob Seger’s catalog. A gong bookends (starts/finishes) the upbeat and a little more aggressive vocal ‘Chains Around You’. ‘Ride To The Guns’ and ‘I Came To Rock’ are like-minded. ‘Black Morning’ sees a jangly acoustic guitar form the backbone of this EAGLES styled mellow rocker. A rollicking bonus track, ‘Live And Let Fly’ owes a hint to Dio, the man’s muse.
