Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Karlsson, Magnus
Label: Frontiers Records
Release: 2013
Runtime: 50:49
Rating: 4/5
Magnus Karlsson is one of the biggest “workhorses” in the music business to come out of the Scandinavian corner of Europe. The guy has written entire albums for singers like Bob Catley (Magnum) and Tony O’Hora (The Sweet, Praying Mantis). He’s the main arranger and composer of the Allen/Lande project, as well as the Kiske/Sommerville project, and he runs the Starbreaker project together with former TNT singer Tony Harnell. In 2008, Karlsson joined the lineup of German power metal stronghold Primal Fear and recorded two studio albums with them. And the list is by no means complete. The man simply doesn’t know the meaning of a break. He’s involved in multiple projects at once. A true professional. Imagine walking into a shop and ordering someone to make a music album for you. That’s pretty much how the esteemed Magnus Karlsson takes orders for his work.
And finally, this celebrated multi-instrumentalist and artist has taken some time for himself, too. He’s created his own solo project, »Free Fall«. The music on it is exactly what Karlsson creates (and has always created) as an arranger and composer, whether as a hired gun or as a regular band member. His musical statement is a refined stroll between melodic hard rock and power metal.
Karlsson knows how a song has to stand. He builds the whole composition around a basic riff that serves as the creative starting point, then carefully fine-tunes it with arrangements that bring in (ultra) melodic flavor and a pompous atmosphere. Since the man is a multi-instrumentalist, he doses the songs effectively by weaving in keyboards, which soften the impact of the cranked-up riffing and add to the melodic payoff of each track’s target sound. The main generator of melodic hunger, though, is the vocals: charismatic, authoritative, clean, and sensually explosive in delivery, unleashing tremendous power even when they soar into the highest registers. Karlsson has invited a whole galaxy of close collaborators and friends he’s connected with, one way or another, through various projects and bands.
There’s Russell Allen (Symphony X), who lends his vocals to one of the album’s strongest compositions, the opening title track. Primal Fear’s screamer Ralf Scheepers is impossible to miss on Higher. Karlsson’s Starbreaker partner Tony Harnell gets his turn on Stronger. And there’s more: Mark Boals (Y.J. Malmsteen, Royal Hunt, The Codex), Rick Altzi (At Vance, Masterplan), David Readman (Pink Cream 69, Voodoo Circle), Herman Saming (A.C.T.), Mike Andersson (Full Force, Star One) and Rickard Bengtsson (Last Tribe).
You’ll quickly notice that the chemistry between Karlsson and each singer on these tracks carries over the chemistry from the band and/or project where the two musicians work together. The opening Free Fall could easily sit on any of the Allen/Lande albums, Higher is a nicely done approximation of what Karlsson does with Primal Fear (caricatured, “sped up” a bit, a cross between Judas Priest and Gamma Ray), while Stronger is akin to Starbreaker’s songs in the character of its melody and arrangement.
If we dig a bit deeper into the record, Magnus’s innate perfectionism drives him to look for the optimal compositional framework, one in which he can squeeze the maximum out of the chosen vocalist and their particular style of delivery (and vocal color). Another thing that shouldn’t go unsaid is that, with his perfectionism, Karlsson would never have let himself step up as lead vocalist if he weren’t convinced he’s a good singer too. And he really is. Magnus lays down the lead vocals on three tracks, and believe me, the quality nuances are so well hidden from the ear that you can only conclude the following: Magnus’s vocal delivery works in creating the desired mood at the same level as the top-notch vocalists contributing to the rest of the album.
»Free Fall« is an authentic imprint of how Magnus Karlsson responds, sensorially and creatively, to the stimuli the musical universe throws at him. It doesn’t get any closer than this. It’s a showcase of this musician’s exceptional polish, someone who can do the whole job in the studio on his own. He just invites a select few vocalists and the thing is done. This time you won’t hear anything from Karlsson you haven’t heard before. »Free Fall« is an album that will appeal first and foremost to fans of all the bands and projects Karlsson is or has been part of. And also to everyone who loves power metal on one side and melodic rock on the other. The “magic” common link between the two is atmospheric pomp, which the genres can develop in different ways. So »Free Fall« is an album tailor-made for anyone who, like Magnus Karlsson, is looking above all for a perfect ambient adventure of optimized melodic definition that hits “right off the bat”.
Lineup
Magnus Karlsson – vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass guitar
Daniel Flores – drums
GUEST MUSICIANS
Russell Allen – vocals
Ralf Scheepers – vocals
Tony Harnell – vocals
Rock Altzi – vocals
David Readman – vocals
Mike Anderson – vocals
Mark Boals – vocals
Herman Saming – vocals
Rikard Bengtsson – vocals
Production
Magnus Karlsson
Tracklist
1. Free Fall (vocals Russell Allen)
2. Higher (vocals Ralf Scheepers)
3. Heading Out (vocals Magnus Karlsson)
4. Stronger (vocals Tony Harnell)
5. Not My Saviour (vocals Rick Altzi)
6. Us Against The World (vocals David Readman)
7. Our Time Has Come (vocals Mark Boals)
8. Ready or Not (vocals Magnus Karlsson)
9. Last Tribe (vocals Rickard Bengtsson)
10. Fighting (vocals Herman Saming)
11. Dreamers & Hunters (vocals Mike Andersson)
12. On Fire (vocals Magnus Karlsson)
