At start, I mixed them up with Grand Design…”yet another album?”…but this is not the newcomer Swedish melodic hard rock band but an older one, even though mostly unknown. Grand Illusion where formed in 1986 by Anders Rydholm and Per Svensson, changed quite some names and went through enough phases and they started to release albums in 2001. With 4 CDs already released, Grand Illusion bring out their new work titled “Brand New World” targeting for your interest.

This album, and the band around it, is definitely not bad. However, it is quite artistic and differential in its essence to reach the average melodic fan. It has all the primordial elements of the Scandinavian scene, a crisp production and orchestration while the performance by the basic trio and the guest musicians are beyond doubt. The menu, though, has to prove how much these songs are catchy and effective. Some AOR, some West Coast, some Power pop, pomp and Scandi Hard Rock with an over-matured scent (to say the least) and I think the recipe needs amending. Once more, the total of the songs has an undisputed quality to bow to, but you can hardly say that you dig any song, with the exception of “I’m Alive”.

For fans of momentum bands like ASIA, BAD HABIT, ALIEN or OVERLAND, this new Grand Illusion album might be worth it. That’s how far it can go I presume...