It’s been about ten years since guitar maestro Janne Stark formed LOCOMOTIVE BREATH from the ashes of classic metal band OVERDRIVE. This latest incarnation of the band could be parenthetically named the Janne Stark Project, as none of the original LB members are left from the early days. But don’t be fooled by the changing lineup; these guys never fail to deliver searing, guitar-driven hard rock and “Change of Track” may be their best album yet.

From the very first note, Stark and the boys demonstrate that melodic hard rock is alive and well (at least in Sweden), combining the classy metal muscle of later ARMORED SAINT with the lip-smacking sweetness of early 80s RAINBOW. Lyrically, don't be expecting Phil Mogg-style train obsessions as this band primarily focuses on topics like growing older and wiser, struggling to make ends meet, and dealing with the shortcomings of others. Frankly, the lack of lyrical pretentiousness is quite refreshing. Vocalist Mattias Osbäck belts it out just like your favorite 70s-era crooners (particularly Gillian and Hughes). The weighty, accomplished riffery blasting from all sides in tracks like “Shadow” and “Firestarter” actually moved me enough to renounce my entire Shrapnel catalog! Well, except the LE MANS record. And the STEELER, gotta hold on to that. Hate to get rid of the CULPRIT disc, but you get the idea. At any rate, Stark shreds like a Euro-demon throughout, and is joined on an instrumental track by MERCYFUL FATE's Hank Shermann and FREAK KITCHEN's Mattias Ia Eklundh. It would appear that this is going out to be a good year for melodic hard rock with the STARBREAKER disc and now this latest from LOCOMOTIVE BREATH. Buy it today and mullet the blue sky.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: www.algonet.se/~stark

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