Didn't know these guys were still around. Or maybe I should say "guy", since the only constant factor in this "band" is singer Björn Lodin. And yes, you guessed right, they're/he's from Sweden (enough with the jokes, I will refer to them as a genuine band from now on). Anyway, this is this band's first new recording in five years, and their last one was a cover album. BALTIMOORE debuted in 1989 with the oddly titled "There's No Danger On The Roof", a pretty decent piece of melodic hard rock. Several other albums and a lot of line-up changes followed and now there's "Fanatical".

On this latest offering BALTIMOORE has ditched the keyboards and the WHITESNAKE overtones in favor of a more straightforward rock approach. And although it's nothing mindblowing or earth-shattering this album should be able to make fans of UFO, VANDENBERG and TESLA very happy. The clean, undistorted twin guitar attack of Mankan Sedenberg and Stefan Bergström, Björn Lodin's raspy voice (think DEF LEPPARD's Joe Elliott, TESLA's Jeff Keith and FRANKIE MILLER) and the solid production are all quite easy on the ears and help to make "Fanatical" an enjoyable listening experience. My only point of criticism is the song material. While none of it is bad, there's nothing that particularly stands out either. When I listen to albums like this I want there to be at least one classic track. You know, one of those tracks that sticks in your head immediately after the first listen, that you recognize upon the first note and you can sing along every word to. Every other band mentioned in this review has at least one of those but none of that here, it's all rather flat. Other than that I have no complaints. Decent, well played, well sung and well produced melodic hard rock. Nothing more, nothing less.

- Van Hoften

OFFICIAL SITE: www.baltimoore.net

RELATED ITEMS: No related articles at this time.