GDM has been on the Grand Design roller coaster ride since album number one, way back in 2009. They are back with their sixth and latest 2023 effort ‘Rawk’.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Grand Design
ALBUM: Rawk
LABEL: GMR Music Group
SERIAL: GMRCD2301
YEAR: 2023
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Sweden
LINEUP: Paelle Saether – vocals, production * Dennis Vestman – guitars, backing vocals * Dan Svanbom – guitars, backing vocals * Stefan Westerlund – bass * Joakim Jonsson – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Tuff It Out * 02 God Bless Rawk N Roll * 03 Love Or A Fantasy * 04 Your Luv Is Drivin’ Me Crazy * 05 Desperate Hearts * 06 Dangerous Attraction * 07 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yQpNU2xoXrA&list=OLAK5uy_nmKauhLaDerwr5sEtcH1LWi1GnJmfdVKY&index=7&pp=8AUBl * 08 Carry On My Wind * 09 Give It All Up For Luv * 10 Get Out * 11 In The H.E.A.T. Of The Nite
RATING: xx/100
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
GDM has been on the Grand Design roller coaster ride since album number one, way back in 2009. The band itself was birthed in 2006, based on the production skills of main man Pelle Saether who had worked with numerous Swedish bands through the 90’s, most notably the band Zello.
Of course the big thing about Grand Design is their preference to style their sound on 80’s era Def Leppard. Very much a doppelganger and also much welcomed considering the Lepps are no longer capable of delivering the arena rock that made them famous in the first place. This copy-cat sound continues for Grand Design right up to their latest 2023 effort ‘Rawk’.
The Songs
Of course the theme here is ‘Rawk N Roll’, which to be fair was also the theme on just about all their previous albums, so nothing has really changed. The mangled spelling is a trademark of the band, going right back to the glam days of The Sweet , Slade and Kiss. Nice to see some Rawk N roll traditions passed down through the ages.
Grand Design have released four official videos from the album, which are in fact the first three songs: ‘Tuff It Out,’ ‘God Bless Rawk N Roll’, ‘Love Or A Fantasy’ and ‘We Were Born To Rawk N Roll’. Check them out below. The first track is a bit of a foot stomping anthem, the second is very melodic with the ever present catchy chorus, the third (I’m sure Love is misspelt, it should be luv), could easily be mistaken for a long lost Rob Moratti song, such is the similarity of Paelle’s vocal parts.
The fourth track ‘We Were Born To Rawk N Roll’ I’m certain was written some time ago, 2020 actually, according to the video credits, but it doesn’t appear on their 2020 ‘V’ album. This one is real party anthem stuff. ‘Your Luv Is Drivin’ Me Crazy’ is kinda similar to Moratti once again, the singalong and chantable chorus is in keeping with Grand Design’s overall template. ‘Desperate Hearts’ starts out with a lush keyboard intro that gradually works it’s way into power-ballad territory. Nice change up.
‘Dangerous Attraction’ also keeps to the melodic boardwalk, mostly restrained until we get to the chorus which lifts it a notch. ‘Give It All Up For Luv’ slows the tempo and energy levels. Could it be construed as a power ballad? Probably just, it’s helped by the chorus being very good. ‘Get Out’ puts the rev on the red line, the tempo lifted noticeably, the song all about being in a trapped situation. The closing track ‘In The H.E.A.T. Of The Nite’ might have a well worn song title with an added tribute to a fellow Swedish band name dropped in the title.
In Summary
With every release from Grand Design, listeners should be in no doubt as to what they will hear. The ideas and delivery have been the same for years, the songs will vary slightly but not by much. What they do, they do really well, and it’s always a good thing to be able to catch up with them every year or so.
Video
God Bless Rawk N Roll
Love Or A Fantasy
Tuff It Out
We Were Born To Rawk N Roll
Entire Album (Select Tracks)
