Artist : Anette Olzon

Album : Strong

Release Date : 10-09-2021

Added : 13-10-2021

After her 'Nightwish' period, during which she had participated in the albums that have become staples of the Finnish band, 'Dark Passion Play' in 2007 and especially 'Imaginerium' in 2011, the Swede was able to bounce back with first of all the creation of a new band 'The Dark Dimension' whose latest album 'Songs the Night Sings' dates back to 2019 but also by taking part in various projects with her duet with 'Russell Allen', 'Worlds Apart' in 2020 and her participation in the 'Heart Healer' project by Swedish 'Magnus Karlsson'. Alongside these various projects, she has a solo career and 'Strong' is her second studio recording after 'Shine' released in 2014. On this new opus, unsurprisingly, she continues her collaboration with 'Magnus Karlsson' ('Primal Fear') with whom she co-wrote and co-composed all of the tracks and the style is decidedly more metal than the first album in a powerful and energetic symphonic style.

The tone is set by 'Bye Bye Bye' muscled by energetic riffs from Magnus and some growls from the bassist and companion of the singer, 'Johan Husgafvel' () in which Anette shows that her vocals have evolved well and that she has gained in power since the 'Nighwish' period which now allows her to compete with the best metal singers. In the same style, 'Sick of You' which follows (see video above), sets a steady pace with a unifying chorus that will stick in your head, just like its successor 'I Need to Stay' but with nice variations in intensity, 'Anders Köllerfors' on drums bringing a remarkable energy. The more measured title track is no less effective, with a tempo that makes you want to headbang and a chorus that you want to go along with, then 'Parasite' (see video here) continues in a powerful and modern metal, the episodic growls adding to this energy debauchery. The first more measured moment between ballad and mid-tempo with 'Sad Lullaby' which, thanks to orchestral arrangements, brings a symphonic atmosphere in which Anette excels just as much and is close to what she has done in the past. We stay in classic symphonic metal with 'Fantastic Fanatic' (see video here) which may remind of the Dutch of 'Delain' (who announced earlier this year the end of the band). With the next 3 tracks, 'Who Can Save Them', 'Catcher Of My Dreams' and 'Hear Them Roar', we continue in the same style with still powerful compositions and with memorable melodies, 'Roll the Dice' concludes the album with a very nice track alternating different tempos and intensity allowing to vary the ambiences but one can regret on the whole a lack of more measured compositions and real ballads, as if 'Anette Olzon' wanted to definitively forget this label of pop singer which, for me, was part of her personality and allowed her an even wider range of styles.

In summary, as the title of this latest album suggests, 'Anette Olzon', who continues to deliver remarkable vocal performances, hardens the tone with heavier compositions, certainly influenced by the guitarist 'Magnus Karlsson', which destines 'Strong' to an audience loving an energetic symphonic metal with catchy melodic lines...

Line Up / Musicians

Anette Olzon (Vocal), Magnus Karlsson (Guitar), Johan Husgafvel (Bass, Growls), Anders Köllerfors (Drums)