Perfect Plan - 'Time For A Miracle'

(Frontiers Records)

Damn! Now this is what I call rock! Perfect Plan should be huge in Melodic Rock circles and Time For A Miracle is a modern-day genre classic! They have crafted an instantly enjoyable slab of melodic rock.

I enjoyed the bands debut album but this time around they have gone for a deeper, heavier musical punch. It’s a little more impactful musically but still a 100% melodic rock. I think it’s a little more consistent overall which helps mark this album as a better collection of tunes than its predecessor.

It’s crystal clear from the onset to the closure of this album they are hugely influenced by 80’s American melodic rock. Although most Scandinavian bands have strong scandi rock markers to their music, Perfect Plan come across as an American band, similar in tone and style to Survivor and Giant.

I really enjoyed the lyric’s too, they help boost the impact of many of the songs not just making them relatable but extremely rousing with many songs raising the hairs on the back of my neck as the song builds before been awed by a killer chorus that just has me hammering the repeat button.

Vocalist Kent Hilli has a powerful voice with a strong range and a deft touch for flowing melodies. The Survivor comparisons aren’t just instrumental but also in the vocal delivery and style, there is a touch of Jimi Jamison to Hilli’s performances. There are some great guitar riff hooks delivered abundantly by guitarist Rolf Nordstrom which truly highlights the talent within this band as his riffs drive the energy and impact of the album as a whole. I was impressed with Leif Ehlin’s Keyboards too, some great keyboard licks, some apparent, some tickle you behind the ear and make you dribble without you noticing. The Keyboards are quite understated but extremely effective.

The song writing is extremely classy, the way instruments and vocals compliment each other at different times is stunning. The way they have mixed everything together for a rich tapestry of full bodied and smooth melodic rock is amazing. Definitely on another level compared to many wannabe’s!

There’s some great ballad’s in the mix too ‘Fighting To Win’ is powerful and imposing, I think the combo of Survivor influenced mid-tempo ballad ‘What About Love’ and the Giant fuelled ‘Don’t Leave Me Here Alone’ are sure to turn heads of those in the AOR fraternity.

Perfect Plan are not a one trick pony though they sure as hell know how to rock too! Anthemic sing-a-longs are thrown at you from beginning to end with ‘Better Walk Alone’ been a strong contender for the reason your repeat button gets damaged! ‘Heart To Stone’ with its punchy chorus and rousing vibe is unforgettable. ‘Living On The Run’ will set the average Melodic rockers ears on fire with its sing out loud chorus and indelible keyboard and guitar hooks! ‘Don’t Blame It On Love Again’ and ‘Just One Wish’ are more anthemic samples of melodic rock glory sure to get under genre fans skins. I know ‘Everytime We Cry’ will be a popular song! It’s an emotive heart wrencher with haunting atmospherics and possibly Nordstrom’s finest guitar solo on the entire album.

I live for music like this, Time For A Miracle is an awesome batch of anthemic and powerful melodic rock. If you enjoy melodic rock and AOR, you’ll love this album, especially if mid 80’s American melodic rock is your jam and Survivor are one of your favourite all time acts!

Perfect Plan’s Time For A Miracle will definitely be noted as one of the years strongest, most memorable and enjoyable genre albums! Sheer magnificence a truly pleasurable album!

9/10

Essential Track – ‘Better Walk Alone’

Review by Woody