If you ask the average person what is Norway’s biggest export, you may get a variety of answers perhaps oil or gas, maybe even fish. If you ask a rock fan what Norway’s biggest export is, you will get one and only one answer, Jorn Lande. Jorn has one of the purest voices in rock and has lent his talents to many projects over the years including his own band, Jorn, German power metal band Masterplan and recently the German rock opera supergroup Avantasia . This time Lande is back with his ninth original studio album under his Jorn moniker, “Life On Death Road.”
The new record features a brand new band lineup with Primal Fear members Mat Sinner on bass, Alex Beyrodt on guitar, and Francesco Iovino on drums along with world class keyboardist Alessandro DelVecchio. The band is technically proficient and solid as a rock but make no mistake about it, the instrument that stands out above the others is the commanding voice of Jorn. Lande’s vocals sound clear and rich throughout the album. The title track kicks things off and begins the journey to pure, hard rock bliss. Whether tackling the slow burn of “Dreamwalker” or the bluesy feel of “I Walked Away,” Jorn and company are on top of their game. The listener can not help but be impressed by the pure power of the music and Jorn’s voice. My favorite song on the album and a real stand out is “Man of the 80’s” which has a real 80’s metal feel as Jorn harkens back to his earlier days and memories of his youth.
“Life On Death Road” is another stellar release from Jorn and a must have for all fans of his work. If you’re reading this and you’ve never heard Jorn, go check him out now. He is simply one of the best.
