Geir is known for his work together with Tommy Denander among others.
Geir have worked on albums with Rainmaker, Radioactive, Prisoner and done a couple of soloalbums.
(Some of them are on Spotify)

The Radioactive project is a project that even Andreas Carlsson appeard on.

But the most noteable fact is that Geir have been in the “Eurovision Song Contest” as a contester for Finland not once but three times (2002, 2004 & 2005) and once for Norway (2006).

The concert is taken place at Harry B James and the “classic” nightclub “Crazy Nights“. For all of you that doesn´t know this is the place to be if you want some good sleaze and melodic rock in Stockholm on a friday night. The place is packed with people, some with Houston t-shirts and some with almost nothing on their body.

About 11:30 pm the band begins to warm up the audience and about 11:32 pm the singer Hampus “Hank” Erix take the stage and the first song for the evening is “Give me back my heart“. You can clearly hear their influences (Journey, Foreigner, Asia) on the first track of the night. Next song for the evening is the bands second single, “Truth Slips“, an easy going track with some female vocals in the middle.  The nights best song, “Pride“, is a true AOR-track with some great guitarsolos and the audience seems to love it. For me it is strange why this track isn´t  a single.  The bands hitsong, “Hold On“,  almost makes the roof to jump, and for a second it feels like this song is 20 years old and a true aor-classic.

Houston will be better in time, this was their first fullset gig (correct me if  I´m wrong), and when Houston will have a few more gigs together they will sound better.

Setlist:
1. Give me back my heart
2. Truth Slips
3. Pride
4. I’m Alive
5. One Chance
6. She’s a Mystery
7. Hold On

Encore:
8. Misery

Rating: 7/10

Photos by; Sören Kronqvist

The new album will once again offer great songs with strong hooks and melodies as well as high quality sound – although the production this time will be slightly heavier than on the previous album ‘Above And Beyond’…
Also, the band will flirt even more with the golden 80′s…
while maintaining their own modern approach to AOR…

Once again production will be handled by Jonas Reingold and Hal Marabel…
a very succeful combination, as it has turned out…

Photo: Mikael Lindström

It is high class in melody, arrangement and production, Harem Scarem fans should not be disappointed. With the help of the lesser-known names in the band (Eric Ragno, ex-China Blue as the most famous name in addition to front-men) have created First Signal debut.
9 out of 11 tracks are of highest class, the ideas of the song Yesterdays Rain bring the thoughts to W.E.T. released in 2009, perhaps that’s deliberate by Dennis Ward as W.E.T. was honored by each AOR-lover. While we are talking about W.E.T. I should also mention that two out of three members (Robert Säll and Erik Mårtensson) contributes to the songwriting to First Signal amongst others.
Best on the album are power ballad Crazy together with fantastic rocker Goodbye to the Good Time with its catchy chorus, least interesting is the title track First Signal although it’s still a good song.

Without any doubt First Signal feels like a interesting name for next year festival season, but clearly everything hangs on whether the band can and want to go out on the roads. If they will I believe that no one will be disappointed over First Signal.

Info:
Label: Frontiers Records (FR CD 476)
Producer: Dennis Ward
Release date: August 27th 2010
Line-up: Harry Hess (Vocals), Dennis Ward (Bass, Background vocals, Guitars), Michael Klein (Guitars), Chris Schmidt (Drums), Eric Ragno (Keyboards), Darren Smith (Background vocals)

Rating: 8/10

This is what the leadsinger Jack Samuel writes on The Poodles official MySpace-page;

“The most important thing in any collaboration is a shared vision of what one wants to accomplish. In our case, that vision must come from a deep love for rock n’ roll, mutual respect and willingness to do whatever it takes to reach your goals. I think we have found those qualities in Frontiers Records“.

Read More at this location.

Sören Kronqvist might not be a very known name but he begins to show an impressing CV as he has written songs with/to people like Michael Bormann, House of Lords and new comer ISSA amongst others. Add as well his own project together with Daniel Flores Crash the System, an album released 2009. Here’s a few Q & A.

MW: Hello Sören let’s start of with a few questions that concerns your past as an elite Track and Field competitor.
You’ve been in the national team for Finland during the 80’s and 90’s when traveling round the world what music did you bring?

SK: Just before the National Championships or other important competitions I used to buy an album I had wanted badly for a while and play it over and over. For example, Pretty Maids, Scorpions, Gary Moore, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc. By doing this, it made me focused and I pushed away any distractions.

MW: Any particular songs that got you going before your competition?

SK: It was different from year to year. Some of the songs were Pretty Maids – Yellow Rain – Don’t Settle For Less, Yngwie Malmsteen – I’ll See The Light Tonight – You Don’t Remember, Fate – I Won’t Stop, TNT – Listen To Your Heart – Northern Lights (since it has some of the best hard rock vocals ever recorded), etc.

MW: Would you say that these artists have inspired you in your song writing?

SK: In one way or another they probably have done that. Those guys write music that I like and I write music that I like. There is most likely some overlap between their and my music.

MW: So when did you start playing music, what instruments do you play?

SK: I tried to play some keyboards in high school (while I had a broken leg), but after that I did not do anything in music for about 17-18 years. So, one can say I started with music about 5 years ago. I play some very basic bass and guitar, but those parts I gladly leave to other people.

MW: Have you been in any bands through the years?

SK: No, I have never been in a band. Although, I have played keyboards live with a Swedish band, “250kg kärlek”, 4-5 times. It was a fun thing to do.

MW: For how long have you been writing songs?

SK: 5-6 years. I know it sound a little crazy starting with music in the middle of one’s 30’s, but I wanted to give it a shot and it has been a fairly fast road since then. About 6 years ago I went to the Swedish producer Thomas G:son and he showed me his studio and how he records, writes songs, etc. After that meeting, I got a rough idea what equipment I gradually needed to buy and how to improve my skills because at that point I was fairly clueless about music. I also went to visit a few other producers, for example, Daniel Flores to learn more about recording, writing, etc.

MW: When working with demo recordings today, how do you progress? Do you play everything by hand or do you use your computer, how do you work?

SK: For demos I play all instruments on the keyboard and record them (like most other people) on separate tracks through midi into the computer, so I can easily change a sound or change key if needed later. Sometimes I bring in a guitar player. Usually I do pre-demo vocals myself and then I bring in a professional singer to do the real demo vocals or the final vocals.

MW: Could you give any advice to non-established songwriters how to get their songs published?

SK: I am not an expert in the field, but talk to people who have had songs published and work out a plan for it because it is probably individual depending on music style, connections, etc.

MW: Tell us a bit about how you came to write together with artists like ISSA, for instance.

SK: Frontiers Records contacted me and asked me if I wanted to write some songs for her and I sent them some songs. They liked all the songs and finally I got six songs on the “Sign Of Angels” album that will be release on Sept 24th (2 of the songs were co-writes). Songs for other artists have come through connection with different song writers, musicians, producers or labels.

MW: What other artists except the mentioned have you been writing with?

SK: Robert Säll (W.E.T., Work Of Art), Göran Edman (Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum, Brazen Abbot), Thomas Vikström (Talk Of The Town, Therion), Daniel Palmqvist (The Murder Of My Sweet), Christian Vidal (Therion), Christian Wulff, Camilla Andersson, Ricky Delin (Houston) 3-4 years ago, Anders Kedhammar and the guys in 250kg kärlek, CC-Rock, , Kenneth Brännström (Stormwing), Sven Wannäs (Stormwing), and a few others.

MW: Have all your songs been published by the same record company or do you write more as a freelance?

SK: Most of my songs have been published through Frontiers Records, but some through Universal Music and through some other labels. I am a freelance writer at the moment.

MW: So Crash The System, your project together with Daniel Flores (Mind’s Eye, The Murder of My Sweet) how did it come together?

SK: Actually, it was Daniel’s idea. At first we planned to get a song (All Because Of You) out to an artist or a band. But, when Frontiers seemed to like three additional tracks we sent Daniel suggested that we should do a project instead with some of the best hard rock vocalists in Sweden. Needless to say, it sounded great to me. However, I was a little hesitant because another producer and guitar player had screwed me for a lot of money the year before that. And, that is still an unsolved issue.

MW: How did you get to know Daniel?

SK: I have known Daniel since 2007 I think it was. He was supposed to put some drums on some songs of mine. The year after he produced a song for me and we kept in contact. I went to his studio every now and then to learn more about recording, mixing, writing songs, etc. In the fall of 2008 he produced a song for me, “All Because Of You” and the rest is history.

MW: Most of the music has been written by you and with the lyrics you’ve had some help from Daniel Flores and Björn Jansson (Tears of Anger, Rawburt) where do you find inspiration to write lyrics?

SK: Inspiration can come at any time. For example when I am about to go to sleep (then I have to get up again and write down some ideas), driving the car, riding on the subway, cooking food, etc. Sometimes I just sit down and play the song over and over until something pops up in the mind. A lot of times it is just to spend the hours on the songs. Luckily, some parts come quickly. It would be great if everything would come that way.

MW: Speaking of Björn Jansson, the least known singer on the album delivers really great vocals on 2 tracks, were you familiar with Björns work before or did someone recommend him?

SK: Just before the release of the “Ride The Sky” I heard a song from that album and I was blown away by the vocals on it. I emailed Björn and we wrote back and forth a few times regarding a potential collaboration in the future. When Crash The System came up it was a great opportunity to ask Björn if he wanted to sing on a few songs. Daniel Flores had been working with Björn before, so Daniel set up the connection to the Crash The System album.

MW: Then of course you got 3 other singers all well established, Göran Edman (Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum…), Thomas Vikström (Talk of the Town, Candlemass…) and Mats Levén(Treat, Yngwie Malmsteen… ) this must have been a boost for the CD, have you got any fun anecdotes to tell from the recordings?

SK: Indeed we did manage to get some of the best rock vocalists in Sweden on the album and it was of course a great boost. I did all demo vocals in my home studio and Göran, Björn and Mats recorded their vocals in their own studios and sent us the files. We brought Thomas to Daniel’s studio and we recorded his vocals there. A special moment was when we recorded “Don’t Tell Me No Lies”. Originally, the vocals were intended to be slightly different at the end of the song but Thomas changed it during the actual recording and hit some really high notes instead. Both Daniel and I got goose bumps, it was a magic moment. We naturally kept that take.

MW: As I’ve understand it you’ve kept on working with Thomas Vikström after Crash the System. Have you been writing with someone special in mind or is it just “random” writing?

SK: Thomas has been at my home studio and recorded vocals for many demos. It has been both songs for specific artists and some random writing. Göran Edman has also been singing on a few new demos. These demos are for different artists and bands mainly through Frontiers Records. I am not allowed say yet to which bands they are going, but I am really excited. You have to wait for the official press releases.

MW: I know a couple of drummers and most of them are almost allergic to the 80’s drum sound. You and Daniel (Daniel being a drummer and all) seems to have gone for a bit more of that sound on Crash the System, what were your thoughts when producing the Album?

SK: Frontiers has many bands from the 80’s and we wanted to recreate some of that sound, but with some modern parts and influences here and there.

MW: Many projects through the years has released a sequel, will there be one with Crash the System?

SK: It is up to Frontiers Records, but we have about 10 songs as demos already and we have almost finished the music for 5 songs. These songs are heavier than the ones on the “The Crowning” album. Clearly it would be great to do more albums with Crash The System. However, it is only a matter of getting a budget together to cover the costs of making a new album. Writing songs is the easy part. I have many songs that are unreleased and I am writing new stuff all the time.

MW: Some of the songs remind me a bit of the rock songs being performed in the Swedish qualifications to the Eurovision Song Contest, artist like The Poodles and H.E.A.T, any thoughts on trying to get a song in the contest?

SK: Who knows, we might try to send in some songs and see if any will be accepted. Eurovision is a great forum with millions of people watching, great exposure. In Sweden the competition is very hard for that competition. Also, one almost needs to be connected somehow to one of the Swedish labels in order to have a chance of making it into the competition.

MW: What else can we expect of Sören Kronqvist in the future?

SK: I am writing new songs all the time for different bands and artists. Hopefully, I will have a chance to spend more time doing that in the future since I am still working full-time as a teacher.

MW: Thanks a lot Sören for sharing with us and good luck in the future.

SK: Thank you! And hope to hear from you on
Crash the System myspace or on
Sörens myspace

Review of Crash the System – The Crowning

Crash the system gives an all in all good impression with some good songs but perhaps without that crystal clear hit. Songs like Fight Fire with Fire and Mysterious proves what a great voice can do to a song as Göran Edman sings like crazy, lifting the songs another step. Thomas Vikström sings lead on the most commercial sounding songs (besides Mysterious) Enough of Your Lovin and Angel of My Heart the difference to the Edman sang songs is that the 2 acording to me sounds a bit ordinary. The best Vikström song on The Crowning are Don’t Tell Me No Lies a song which gives the listener a mystique feeling with it’s arrangement, while Vikström tells the story with a great sense for the song (a story that is confirmed by Sören Kronquist in the interview)

The down side of the Album is that they’ve hired Mats Levén to the project, a man with a great voice but definitely wrong for this project as I believe Levén should sing classic rock or metal. The songs might have been much better with any of the other singers, but that’s my opinion. Another thing that’s a bit on the downside is that Flores and Kronqvist should think of Crash the System as a band rather than a project to get that feeling of not being “just a project”.

The best thing on the Album are probably the discovery of Björn Jansson in a different environment than I’ve heard him before as I recently heard him on the CD Muskedunder by Rawburt, where I really liked his voice but when I got to hear him on Crash the system I can only wish for more to come in this genre as he really fits for the sound. The song Rolling Stone reminds me slightly of Whitesnake as the arrangement sounds a bit like Here I Go Again ’87, Björn also keeps his voice in the mid range most of the time which brings a bit of that soulful feeling.

Sören Kronqvist might be a man to keep your eyes open for as he presents some really good songs but also a few fillers. With the competent Daniel Flores you of course should have high expectations and together they’ve released a good album that perhaps would be of a bit more even standard with fewer musicians involved.

Info:
Label: Frontiers Records (FR CD 418)
Producer: Daniel Flores
Release date: June 2009
Line-up: Sören Kronqvist (Guitars, Bass, Keyboards), Daniel Flores (Drums, Bass, Guitars, Keyboards, Strings, Backing Vocals)

Guest musicians: Göran Edman (Lead & Backing Vocals), Mats Levén (Lead & Backing Vocals), Thomas Vikström (Lead & Backing Vocals), Björn Jansson (Lead & Backing Vocals), Johan Niemann (Additional Guitars), Daneil Palmqvist (Additional Guitars), Manuel “Mano” Lewys (Additional Guitars), Andreas Lindahl (Additional Keyboards), Angela Rylin (Additional Backing Vocals)

Rating: 6,5/10

Interview with Sören Kronqvist

My first acquaintance with Terra Nova a couple of years ago came with their comeback CD Escape, a CD that didn’t make me want to find out more about the band. So when listening to their latest CD Come Alive it surprises me a bit because here are actually a couple of catchy songs. The production this time are good in every aspect except for the drums which sounds very thin together with the otherwise quite impressive arrangements, still it’s much better than the Escape album.

Both the intro of Holy Grail and the refrain of Here Comes the Night feels like real rip offs but I just can’t put my finger on where I’ve heard it before. Or perhaps Terra Nova simply put the finger on the trigger and got to create something catchy that seems familiar but still is unique, in that case the songs soon should be classics.

As mentioned Terra Nova made a better effort than on their comeback still there’s only a couple of really good songs like the 2 earlier mentioned and the ballad Those Eyes, the rest of the songs leaves me untouched, but perhaps I’ll check out their other CD’s this time.

Info:
Label: Frontiers Records (FR CD 469)
Producer: Fred Hendrix
Release date: July 2nd 2010
Line-up: Gesuino Derosas (Guitars), Lars Beuving (Drums), Ron Hendrix (Keyboards), Fred Hendrix (Vocals), Eric Coenen (Bass)

Rating: 5/10