Released by: Frontiers Records

Release Date: October 14th, 2022

Genre: Melodic Hard Rock

Line Up:

Kent Hilli – Lead vocals
Rolf Nordström – Guitar
Leif Ehlin – Keyboards
Fredrik Forsberg – Drums
Mats Byström – Bass

Tracklist:

Surrender
If Love Walks In
Can’t Let You Win
Gotta Slow Me Down
Stop The Bleed
My Angel
Devil’s Got The Blues
Bring Me A Doctor
Still Undefeated
Emelie
Walk Through Fire

In 2018 we covered the debut of Swedish Vocalist Kent Hilli and his band Perfect Plan titled “All Rise“. Hard nowadays to distinguish yourself from the amount of music that gets delivered weekly, with that release, they paved new roads with their joyful infused harder Melodic Rock debut; making it one of the top albums of that year. In 2020 they bounced back with their sophomore release in a bit muddied unfortunately by the pandemic and its difficulties, that release was just every bit as good as their debut, but probably got overlooked due to the nature of things happening in the world.

They are back again with now their 3rd full-length number “Brace For Impact”. Will this one continue its climb in the Melodic Rock world?

Nothing fundamentally has changed in the melodic category. Perfect Plan continues to deliver a very absorbable, profoundly melodic product. Similar in fashion to their last 2 albums, the sound appears to be more polished overall and a tad heavier. That was the band’s intention, heavier stuff, and fewer ballads, as it only features one on “Brace For Impact”. I agree this release is more in your face.

©LEIF WIKBERG

The second number “If Love Walks In” sounds as if Jeff Scott Soto was singing the chorus on this one, a testament to the solid vocal work of Hilli. A nice mid-level rocker with plenty of melodic bite to it. The punchy kick in “Can’t Let You Win” stands out on the first few listens, it again features the belting vocals of Hilli, alongside an infectious chorus with plenty of lethal hooks. A slew of up-tempo numbers keeps the truck rolling when “Bring Me A Doctor” kicks in, more up-tempo antics steam the momentum forward. One of the fastest numbers on the album.

I will say this in defense of the Melodic Rock genre, as it can often get too stagnant, and bands tend to stay with that same formula you come to expect. Not here with Perfect Circle as I feel they have pushed their sound to an edgier groove. Almost Danger Danger/FM in places, but still Melodic at its core. Kent Hilli is a terrific vocalist and he helps carry the songs over the norm. The musicianship in general is very strong, keyboard solos sprinkled in throughout some of the tunes, and the production is crisp. For a genre that can get a lot of flack often, you have to keep things moving to stand out and Perfect Plan does just that with a resounding presence!!!

Written by: Shadow Editor