It doesn't happen often but once in awhile there comes along a band that really captures the heart and soul of an era. It might be the here and now or the spirit of a by-gone time period. Swedish rockers Backdraft has managed to bring back to me those glorious days of my youth when rock and roll was just that, pure unadulterated ROCK & ROLL!
They have been described as hard rockers with a Southern touch. This might be true but it doesn't come near telling the whole story. These guys might apply a bit of Molly Hatchet or Lynyrd Skynyrd now and then but you are just as apt to hear a good dose of Bad Company or Nazareth. In other words, Backdraft is kind of like one of those K-Tel Records best of the 70's collection disc when it comes to style. In the course of nine songs this band captures the feel, spirit and music of a whole generation not just a genre.
I would have to say my favorite moment on this disc is the very Southern sounding "The King of Diesel" with it's Skynard type anthem like style that will have the fist pumping while you listen to Jonas Ahlen sing about his gasoline queen. Yes these guys do this type of sound better than a lot of those that are from there! Maybe one of the Van Zant's left some of their genetic material over there on one of the European tours because even with multiple plays of this album, I could swear that the vocals are by someone who resides within spittin' range of the Gulf of Mexico.
But there again, this disc it is musically eclectic as I listen to "Idiot" and hear a more European or British style of hard rock of that time period but then on the next song it might be Sweet or Head East telling you about "Yesterdays & Tomorrows" before you hear influences like Bad Company with a Doobie Brothers tinge on "E.C.G.T. Blues". Backdraft wants to make sure you have a good time no matter who your favorite artist is of the era.
Now that is not to say that Backdraft doesn't have their own sound. I have used all the band's as references to give you an idea of where this band comes from. They might sound familiar in one way but it is a unique experience in another as this band is the essence of all that is good in rock and roll. This album is just about as fun as it can get for someone from my era who grew up on the diversity of musical styles that were predominant at the time. This one is a special treat that will strongly appeal to my generation but should not be ignored by the younger rockers either. Those whipper-snappers might just lean something from the sounds that came before them.
Track listing:
1. Idiot
2. Yesterdays & Tommorows
3. E.C.G.T. Blues
4. Stand
5. No Love
6. Wheel Of No Fortune
7. On The Flipside
8. The King of Diesel
9. Out of Here
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