Art Nation – Inception

Although not as globally renowned as Eclipse, H.E.A.T, or other peers in their niche, Art Nation is most certainly a band who deserves to be in the Scandinavian AOR discussion. Their first two albums, Revolution (2015) and Liberation (2017), have since become modern day cult classics among the melodic rock community (better known as the “Melodic Mafia”). And then, like many of their peers have of late, Art Nation went metal. 2019’s Transition was a gutsy release that spotlighted the band’s penchant for heavy, power, and progressive metal.

This aptly titled album was melodic enough to please their fanbase, but certainly a step in a new direction. Was Art Nation now a metal band for good? This was a question that got the better of me for nearly 4 years, especially as lead singer Alexander Strandell released not one, but two albums with melodic metal supergroup Crowne, albums that I felt were hit or miss overall. Well folks, the answer is finally upon us as Art Nation returns with their fourth and latest album, Inception (Notice a theme in the album titles yet?).

On Inception, Art Nation has largely reverted back to being a no frills AOR machine. That isn’t to say they haven’t completely shaken the metal out of their system, because there’s no shortage of cuts on here bound to please the headbanger crowd. “Brutal & Beautiful” and “The Last of the Burned” boast the “bigger is better” ethos employed by Eclipse and latter day Pretty Maids: big riffs, big drums, big choruses, you get the idea. It’s textbook euro melodic metal. “Fight Fire with Fire” and “Somewhere I Know I Belong” meld this Scandinavian heaviness with an uplifting sense of power reminiscent of Helloween.

Songs like “1001”, “Echo”, and “The Legend Reborn” are straightforward melodic rockers with just a touch of heaviness in the guitarwork to add depth, while “Light the Fire” screams late 80s arena metal; its simplistic arrangement and gang vocals recalling Hysteria era Def Leppard and Europe. And then there’s a handful of outliers that even within the AOR realm are nothing short of unique. “Break Up”, “Superman”, and “Powerless” are essentially rockified slabs of early 10s techno-pop that leave me…confused. Adult me doesn’t know how to feel about them. My inner tween is screaming with joy, as these slabs of Obama era nostalgia could’ve easily been played alongside Lady Gaga and Sean Kingston (“What a gwan!!!”) at a school dance.

For the most part, Inception treads familiar territory, and can even be cast as “predictable”. That said, the occasional formulaic approach characteristic of modern melodic rock doesn’t take away from the grace and finesse of these songs, or the band’s individual performances. The MVP award here goes to guitarist Christoffer Borg, who treats us to some of the wildest Brad Gillis inspired riffs and solos of the past decade, towing the line between frenzy and flavor. That description alone should catch the attention of any guitar nerds who frequent this site regularly. Feel free to attempt your best Instagram cover of “1001”…or don’t. Perhaps leave it to the professionals in Art Nation.

7 out of 10

Label: Frontiers Records

Genre: AOR

For fans of: Eclipse, Pretty Maids, Crowne