Norwegian band Return tried to sneak this album into 1992 ‘on the quiet’, but not so. With grunge in full swing, melodic rockers were looking for any fix to keep their sweet-tooth happy. Return’s ‘V’ fulfilled that objective.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Return
ALBUM: V
LABEL: EMI Norsk
SERIAL: 780954 2
YEAR: 1992
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Norway
LINEUP: Knut Erik Ostgard – vocals, keyboards * Steinar Hagen – guitar, vocals * Tore Larsen – bass, vocals * Oyvind Hakonsen – drums
Additional Musicians: Hans Olav Solli, Ole Evenrude, Haakon Iversen, Jorn Lande – backing vocals * Baard Torstensen – slide guitar * Daffy Larsen – harmonica * Geir Olav Bokestad – keyboard progamming
TRACK LISTING: 01 Life Must Go On * 02 Take This Heart * 03 Tonight * 04 Goin’ Back * 05 Friends Will Be Friends * 06 Room In Your Life * 07 Ridin’ On A Rainbow * 08 Straight Across My Heart * 09 Lion’s Eye * 10 All Or Nothing
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Norwegian band Return tried to sneak this album into 1992 ‘on the quiet’, but not so. With grunge in full swing, melodic rockers were looking for any fix to keep their sweet-tooth happy. Return’s ‘V’ fulfilled that objective.
After a long stint with CBS, the band moved over to Norway’s EMI label for this album. CBS tried to mitigate their decision by releasing two albums the previous year. 1991’s ‘Foreplay’ (fore as in fourth album), plus a Greatest Hits collection called ‘Replay’. How clever.
The Songs
I had this album in cassette tape prior to CD, and I remember thrashing the heck out of it. That was back in the days of the Walkman. Remember those things? Return’s brand of melodic rock appealed to me greatly. To me, they were like the Norwegian version of Treat, and like their Swedish counterparts, they got better with each album.
Listening to majestic pieces such as ‘Life Must Go On’ and ‘Tonight’ sets us up beautifully. One of the best songs ever to leave Norway’s shores must be the incredible ‘Room In Your Life’. This is some of the finest AOR out of Scandinavia bar none.
Not to be completed blind-sided by one track, ‘Ridin’ On The Rainbow’ and ‘Friends Will Be Friends’ are also appealing tracks in their own way. Return are pretty good at ballads too. ‘Take This Heart’ and ‘Straight Across My Heart’ are close to being tearjerkers.. even for tough hardened melodic rockers.
In Summary
Zero Corporation released this in Japan during 1993. That would be a useful version of the album to have for sure. It’s on my wants list. Beyond 1992, Return are still in operation, having released three albums, including a 2015 Live album ’30 Years Anniversary – Live At Stange’, which also included a DVD of the event.Time to run a re-familiarisation of this band very shortly.
Return on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
