JORN — Worldchanger (review)

JORN — Worldchanger album cover Album · 2001 · Hard Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
Pelata
Boy, Jorn Lande gets around doesn't he? The man can be spotted all over the melodic/prog/power metal landscape. Whether it be with prog wunder-band Ark, the darker yet still progressive Beyond Twilight, singing a part on Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus metal opera, fronting an Yngwie Malmsteen tour, or in this case releasing a solo album. Roland Grapow has even recruited him for his post-Helloween outfit Masterplan. But, we're here to talk about Jorn's newest solo release 'Worldchanger' (2010 edit - this review was written in 2001).

Let me begin this by saying that if you've never had the extreme pleasure of hearing Jorn Lande sing, then you have my deepest, most heartfelt sympathies. This man is a modern vocal god! In fact, I would say that he and Symphony X's Russell Allen are the top 2 "next generation" vocalists in metal. 10 years from now, they will be revered and worshipped just as Ronnie James Dio and Ian Gillan are today. He's that good! That being said, 'Worldchanger' is an amazing album!

This is some of the best melodic metal I have heard in a long time. There is a rich, soulful feel to not only the vocals but also the melodies, the guitar solos, the production, everything! It's a darker, heavier album than his AOR laden 'Starfire'. There are also no covers ('Starfire' was half covers). This one has a moody, slightly bluesy, early Rainbow feel to some of it. "Sunset Station" has a great, throbbing groove and a grabby chorus. There is some killer guitar work as well, courtesy of Tore Moren. The guitars all over the album have a dense, rich tone on both rhythms and leads. This tune finds Jorn showing a bit of David Coverdale influence. The Dio-era Sabbath strains of "Glow In The Dark" will have metalheads the world over bowing in reverence with it's big, droning opening groove riff. Moren is on fire here with some great wah-pedal work. The title track begins with some spacey synth textures before heading into it's near-prog riffing. This track is the most Ark-like of the record, complete with the big, singable chorus. Jorn's vocals totally shine in a setting like this. His melodies and harmonies are superb. I dare anyone not to sing along with this chorus. "Bless The Child" has an aggressive, angry, pseudo-thrash feel to the verse before heading into another melodic pre-chorus. The chorus is chock-full of double bass and stellar vocals. This is undoubtedly the most aggressive track on the record. Like every other tune here, we're treated to more of Moren's stunning lead work.

I cannot say enough good things about this record. Every song deserves mention as there is not a clunker in the bunch. Fans of any of the bands mentioned in this review, or melodic metal in general, owe it to themselves to seek this record out. Not only is it one of the most outstanding melodic metal releases in recent memory, but it's also a glimpse of a future legend.
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