SAINT DAEMON - "Pandamoneum"- Frontiers Records - 2009

Superb Modern Power Metal from Sweden. They possess everything you want in power Metal, soaring guitars, amazing vocals and some great hooks. They teter on the AOR edge at times with the title track and "Way Home", but those two song have such powerful choruses it's hard to be too concerned they aren't quite as "Metal" as the rest of the album.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by the strength of the album when you see the resume of the band (see below). But the chemistry these guys have on just their second album is really amazing. Vocalist Jan-Thore Grefsatd should be mentioned as one of the best in the business, his work here is amazing. He shows range, power and grit that that most wish they had. Again, most impressive is their ability to write a good chorus and some solid hooks, something missing in a lot of the Power/Prog albums. Fans of AOR, Power and Prog need to have this one.

Jan-Thore Grefsatd - Vocals
Highland Glory-From The Cradle To The Brave (2003)
Highland Glory-Forever Endeavour (2005)
Wild Willys Gang-Camouflage (2005)
Saint Deamon-In Shadows Lost From The Brave (2008)

Nobby Noberg-Bass
Nation-Chased By Time (1994)
Nation-Without Remorse (1996)
Dionysus-Sign Of Truth (2002)
ChrisCatena-Freak Out (2003)
Dionysus-Anima Mundi (2004)
Dionysus-Fairytales and Reality (2006)
Mikeyla & The Metal Forces-Glorius (2006)
Saint Deamon-In Shadows Lost From The Brave (2008)

Toya Johansson-Guitars
Sinner-Mask Of Sanity (2007)
Ride The Sky-New Protection (2007)
Saint Deamon-In Shadows Lost From The Brave (2008)

Ronny Milianowicz-Drums
Hammerfall-Legacy Of Kings (1998)
Sinergy-Beware The Heavens (1999)
Dionysus-Sign Of Truth (2002)
Dionysus-Anima Mundi (2004)
Cans-Beyond The Gates (2004)
Primal Fear-Seven Seals (2005)
Dionysus-Fairytales and Reality (2006)
Mikeyla & The Metal Forces-Glorius (2006)
Sinner-Mask Of Sanity (2007)
Primal Fear-New Religion (2007)
Ride The Sky-New Protection (2007)
Saint Deamon-In Shadows Lost From The Brave (2008)

Johnny Lima - "Livin' Out Loud" - Shock Pop Record - 2009


If the music sounds like it's strait out of the 80's... well, in a way it is. Johnny Lima was one of the unfortunate souls who as a victim of the "grunge" era of the early 90's. But he stuck with it, he's done production work for other bands and still continues to put out an 80's style of rock.

If you are a fan of the mid to late 80's Rock you will love this material. It has the big sound, the layered backing vocals, the sleaze and the attitude. Personally some of the lyrics are a bit dated for me, but again, it's not supposed to sound like today's music! I understand what he's doing and I can appreciate his efforts. With the resurrgeance of the 80's and Hard Rock he's bound to turn some heads.

Think about this, the guys who achieved success from the 80's have rarely put out music like they did back then. The NEW kids doing the 80's weren't there! But guys like Lima got a taste of the 80's, he knows, he was there, so he can bring that back to the music. Plus he wasn't jaded like some of the bigger names, so he's doing this music the way he wants to do it. Bottom line, this is some very good AOR/Melodic Rock with ties back to the 80's, if you love that era, you're bound feel good about Johnny Lima.