Swedish producer/composer/musician Chris Laney, ex member of Zan Clan, releases his solo debut under the title “Pure”. No title could fit better this release as it is really “pure” in every aspect! Pure, late 80s hard rock with plenty influences from XYZ, Heaven’s Edge, Casanova, Ratt of the “Detonator” era, Shark Island,…you name it!

Working in Polar Studios that were created by Abba members and today they belong to experienced producer Lennart Östlund (Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, ABBA, Genesis), Chris suggested to Lennart to work together for his debut album, so Lennart took over the co-production and co-mixing and also contributed as a composer and musician. Chris himself has worked as a producer for a wide list of important bands and artists such as Europe, Bruce Kulick, Crashdiet etc. The large ‘cast’ of contributors to this effort is completed by some special guests like Bruce Kulick (Kiss, Blackjack, Michael Bolton, Billy Squier, Grand Funk Railroad), Lennart Östlund of course (Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, ABBA, Genesis), Koleberg (Animal, Zan Clan), Nalle Pahlsson (Treat, Animal, Zan Clan), Vic Zino (Hardcore Superstar), Martin Sweet (Crashdiet) and Zinny Zan (Easy Action, Shotgun Messiah, Zan Clan).

The compositions, the production and the whole atmosphere in “Pure” are all very well delivered and, by someone who doesn’t know that this is a 2009 release, the album could easily be considered as a release from 1989-1992. The very good “Situation” is the opening track that gives us a hint of what this album is about but the ‘surprises’ after that are more splendid! Second track is the magnificent “I Dunno” that gives the listener his very first “heart attack”. Pure, late 80s-early90s hard rock at its best! Sharp riffs, “dirty, sexy feeling” with the catchiest chorus! “Make You Cry” speeds up and leads to the first ballad of the album “The Stranger In You”, one of the best hard rock power ballads of the last years (..at least…)! A mid-tempo, ‘Def Leppard backing vocals’-like track is “Get U Down”, Chris Laney’s tribute to Mutt Lange as he describes it, and certainly it is one of the highlights in this album. And when you think that you’ve heard it all, then comes “Pissed At What Ya Missed”, with some great ‘attitude’ and guitar parts to blow you away!

What more can I say about this album? It is simply beyond a hard rocker’s expectations. Chris Laney did this amazing work and made it an incredible solo debut! “Pure” not only will not disappoint hard rock fans all over, but it will definitely be included in the best hard rock albums of the year (if not the best)! An album-surprise in its genre! You should listen to it in any way! It is simply a masterpiece!