Jorne Lande & Trond Holter Dracula: Swing of Death cd review

I have been a fan of Jorn Lande for many many years and have grown a little weary of his recent solo output ( not the Allen/Lande cd's) with its similarity and little change in its musical direction.

So seeing his latest release was a rock opera I was worried.

This is from Frontiers press release for the cd

This exciting concept album was inspired by the life of Count Vlad the III, Prince of Wallachia, widely known as Vlad, The Impaler or by his patronymic name Vlad Dracul(a). The whole story explores the inner struggle inside the multifaceted and engorging character that this mysterious 15th Century personality was, while also taking into account some of the metaphysical aspects that passed into literature, forming the whole basis of the vampire mythos.

Jorn Lande – who impersonates Dracula, is the main character of the album and the female parts are sung by Norwegian singer Lena Fløitmoen (representing Mina/Lucy from the Bram Stoker book). The drama of the story reveals Dracula’s inner battle, where he still remembers what true love was, and as he wandered the Earth for centuries with a thirst for blood, his loneliness and desire to be able to love again has led him to the brink of insanity. In the original Bram Stoker version, he leaves Transylvania by ship and when he meets Lucy’s best friend, she reminds him so much of his first love Mina, that he becomes obsessed. His mission is to take her as his bride, and make her Queen of the dark.

Joining him on the cd is his Jorn and Wig Wam guitarist Trond Holter who has had this idea of a rock opera for about a decade. Also bassist Bernt Jansen, drummer Per Morten Bergseth, and female vocalist Lena Fløitmoen Børresen .

Now I will say it first you will either love it or probably hate it. 

I love it.

It is just great to hear Jorn having what seems to me fun.He has been singing the same song for many years and this totally overblown slightly mad cd in all its overblown Phantom Of The Opera meets rock eccentricity works magnificently and the great man is out of his comfort zone and it is all the better for it.

It is equal parts heavy as hell,melodically challenging,huge drums,great guitar work,orchestral passages and some totally killer vocal duels between Jorn and Lena that would be a joy to see live and she more than holds her own.

In fact first track " Hands Of Your God " with its folky picked acoustic guitar beginnings and then the slightly drab slow pace had me a little worried but is saved by Holter's guitar solo on a track that is an appetiser.

" Walking On Water " is hands down the best song that Jorn has played on since " Lonely The Brave " with its huge riff and superb chorus and driving drum rhythm and the riff after the first chorus would have every headbanging. After the second chorus we get taken on a Gary Moore/Celtic riff instrumental part before an excellent solo from Holter.

" Swing Of Death " has a real camp jazzy feel to it dare I say it a swing. The duel vocal chorus wouldn't be out of place in The Rocky Horror Show before another Celtic jig .

" Masquerade Ball " has a piano intro with Jorn in full David Coverdale voice before the song explodes with a huge riff and Jorn vocal and the mid song acoustic folky guitar work over the crushing guitar and drums works well.

" Save Me " has some of my beloved light and shade with huge riffs and a vocal duel with Lena at its heart especially in the chorus. Rock music opera at its finest.

" River Of Tears " has a stop start guitar riff with Jorn wooing his woman and then another huge multi layered vocal duel at the chorus that is top drawer.Holter produces a lengthy guitar solo of equal quality to the rest of the song which includes a guitar passage right out of Queen's work.The end of the song has a vocal duel at its core with guitar melody underneath that is superb.

" Queen Of The Dead" has a piano and tolling bell in the intro before a crushing guitar riff hits home. The mid song vocal from Jorn as the song ebbs and flows is one of his finest for many a year.

" Into The Dark " starts on a chugging guitar riff with some excellent keyboard depth on another song that is a vocal duel with Lena taking centre stage for the chorus. Big congratulations to the team that spotted her as her melodic vocal range is a perfect match to sing alongside Jorn.More Holter guitar histrionics push the quality only higher.

" True Love Through Blood " is an instrumental break that has a crushing riff and Holter again shows his class with varied riffs and solos.

"Under The Gun " is a perfect album closer with another vocal collision between Lena and Jorn on a rolling riff and moments of peace that puts the vocal and riff at its core along with a keyboard mid song piece before Holter leads the band into the outro with another excellent solo.

What I am so pleased to hear on this cd is Jorn taking a chance and not staying in the same musical area that he is comfortable with.A musical opportunity like this built for him to stretch himself has only pushed the boundaries that he operates in.

Both he and Holter have produced something that if Alice Cooper in his heyday had produced it we would all be shouting from the rooftops masterpiece.

All you need to to do is do the same and go inside this cd and let it envelop you and take you on a journey through a musical landscape that pushes boundaries and for that we should salute the 2 men involved.

Dracula Swing of Death is released
EU – January 23rd 2015
NA – January 27th 2015