ON THE RISE - review added 24th November 2009
Album Review: Dream Zone (2009)
For fans of: AOR... and very polite music
Just to be confusing, Norwegian band On The Rise isn't really a band at all; it's a bloke. His name is Terje Eide and, on this evidence, he's a rather talented chap.
Although Terje's musical history stretches back into the 1980's, the On The Rise band/project officially has its roots at the turn of the century. After producing a demo that garnered interest from italian label Frontiers Records, the first On The Rise album came out not long after to critical acclaim.
Dream Zone is the second release.and follows a similar musical vein. It's melodious, rocking and boasts a very friendly sound. Joining Terje (who performs vocals, plus some guitar, bass and keyboards) is Erik Engebretsen on drums, Christian Wolff on occasional keyboards, bass and guitar, and Eric Ragno on some of the piano and keyboard moments.
Opening track 'Lifeline' takes a moment to get going. By the chorus it's found its feet and gained plenty of charm. There's an air of Toto and Survivor in the melodies, and that's a good thing. 'Lost Your Track' makes me laugh. It's a great track, but it really does sound like the theme tune to a tacky 1980's American sitcom. It's just so spunky and feel good you can't help but love it.
The title track is solid and pleasant. The acoustic, harmony-rich 'Edellyn' is even better. It's a slow love song with a serene chorus and offers a different take on the usual rock ballad style. It's back to harder rock with 'Alive'. It's another decent song that does nothing wrong but fails to get the heart pounding. 'In The Line Of Fire' rocks out in a laid back way. It's a cool effort that's a lot more likeable than it should be. It seems basic and unadventurous on the surface but there's something lurking beneath the surface that gives it a massive charm.
'Get Out Of Here' is a similarly paced track to the previous one. It has a similarly likeable vibe too. 'Fly Away' is too lightweight for my liking. There's nothing wrong the track as such, but it simply doesn't push any of my buttons. 'No Time To Lose' is a nice retro-tinged track with a bounder of a bass line. It still retains that air of subtlety that's prevalent across the album, but its Giant/Toto/Survivor sound is mighty fine.
'Why Wait Another Day' is pop-infused and as happy as a cat with a pot of creamed sparrows. 'Tomorrow Never Dies' boasts some interesting effects and a well constructed chorus. 'Howling At The Moon' is another better song with a slower, more measured approach. It's close to excellence but misses out by a couple of notches. Final song 'Find A Way' (a bonus track in some territories) is actually better than several other entries on the album. Not quite sure why it's merely a bonus, but there you go.
Dream Zone is a nice Inoffensive release with plenty of charm. The individual songs aren't as strong as the album as a whole, but if you like the softer end of hard and melodious rock this'll be right up your street.
Check out... All of it in one go.
CD Track List:
01. Lifeline
02. Lost Your Track
03. Dream Zone
04. Edellyn
05. Alive
06. In The Line Of Fire
07. Get Out Of Here
08. Fly Away
09. No Time To Lose
10. Why Wait Another Day
11. Tomorrow Never Dies
12. Howling At The Moon
13. Find A Way (Bonus track)
Label: Frontiers Records
Artist's website(s): On The Rise , MySpace
