jorn dukebox

Released: 07 September 2009 Label: AFM Records

Anyone who knows anything about hard rock will know of Norwegian vocalist Jorn Lande. He’s released over thirty albums as the front man for Millenium, Ark and Masterplan, and as a solo artist.

Dukebox sees a reasonably well-chosen anthology of the man’s solo back catalogue for this Best of album. All his previous discs spanning the last eight years are represented, and there’s a pretty good choice of tracks by the man himself. (Although as with any compilation, some fans will also have wanted different tracks on it.)

Jorn's big voice probably cannot be reviewed without the obligatory comparison with the likes of Coverdale or Dio, but it serves brilliantly the good quality rock songs on this album. Tungur Knivur is a classic rock track with heavy riffs, and Soul of the Wind is initially a slower song showing off his versatility and range with the softer high pitched beginning before the vocal power shines through as the song goes deeper and faster.

There’s the faster numbers such as Young Forever and Sunset Station, and the anthemic Lonely Are the Brave. It’s nothing stunningly original, and is hard melodic rock by numbers in places, but for fans of hard melodic rock that may have somehow missed out on Lande’s talents to date, this is a pretty good starting point to discover his works and powerful voice.

by Lynn Wyeth