The legendary band of the Scandi Aor scene, Treat, returns after 18 years of absence. A band that many years ago had released great studio efforts like “Dreamhunter” and “The Pleasure Principle” but they never gained the success they hoped for. See those were the years of the Europe’s “Final Countdown” era an album that took over the charts all over the world with the most successful hardrock album ever to be released by a Swedish band. Nowadays, in 2010, Treat want to take revenge for the unfair treatment back at the 80’s, by releasing an amazing album, that the fans of melodic rock MUST listen! 

To be honest, I didn’t expect many things from the new album of the Swedish guys, and the reason was that many reunions like this, at their new studio LPs had left me mixed feelings. A great example is the Europe reunion albums. But Treat, with “Coup De Grace” gives us a big surprise with an outstanding release that hardly any other melodic rock band will succeed to exceed this year. The sound of the band differs from the older releases by being modern and fresh, a cause of the very good production work and of the influences from bands like Shakra and Pink Cream 69. But the big advantage at this album is that there isn’t any filler in a total of 14 songs (13 songs plus 1 intro)!  And as a result, you can’t press the stop button before the last notes of “Breathless” that ends the record. With much difficulty and hoping I’m not unfair to the rest of the songs, the tracks hat stand out are “Paper Tiger”, “I’m Not Running”, “Heaven Can Wait” and the album’s only ballad “A Life To Die For”. Oh, of course, how can I not notice the amazing “Skies Of Mongolia” with its eastern melodies. One of this year’s best songs!

Even with many years of delay, we hope that “Coup De Grace” will put Treat at the place that they deserve. The marvelous upcoming tour that follows, with support bands The Poodles and H.E.A.T., I’m sure that it will also help them to increase their popularity.