Jorn - Unlocking The Past
Frontiers Records
Classic Rock Covers
10 songs (49'15)
Release year: 2007
Jorn, Frontiers Records
Reviewed by Ben

I remember when I first heard the name Jorn Lande. He joined Yngwie’s band for to support War To End All Wars and had a highly public split mid tour. His name stayed with me and I heard a couple of songs from his second solo album, Sunset Station and Christine. Beginning with Ark’s Burn The Sun I followed Jorn’s career pretty steadily. Two more solo albums later, a stint with Masterplan, and a collaboration with Magnus Karlsson and Russel Allen brings us to 2007 where Jorn is releasing a best of compilation, The Gathering and a covers album, Unlocking The Past simultaneously. A fan I may be but I question the decision to release this particular album. It’s not a matter of stylistic differences, I enjoy all the bands that are being paid tribute here (well maybe not Kiss, sorry Danny!), it’s just that a cd of classic rock songs done up by the Norwegian singer isn’t really anything that I would be frothing at the mouth for.

On And On is a Michael Schenker Group track and opens up Unlocking The Past with a healthy injection of guitar virtuosity. Whitesnake’s Fool For Your Loving is an obvious highlight, you would have to be deaf to not have noticed Jorn’s striking similarity to David Coverdale. I am particularly fond of Feel Like Making Love, an old school Bad Company number. Jorn really can ooze that bad boy vibe that makes this song a winner. Hell, I often wonder how big this guy would be if he had been born ten years earlier and started banging out records in the mid to late eighties. Maybe it’s because Pretty Maids have just covered Perfect Strangers on last years Wake Up To The Real World or maybe I’m just sick of hearing this Deep Purple song being covered for the five millionth time but anyway you cut it Jorn’s version sounds like every other one out there. Burn while not given the cover treatment quite so much, is another Deep Purple track that while decent sounding, is nothing special either. I should also mention that this has been previously released on Jorn’s first solo album, Starfire so its inclusion here is a little confusing. Blackmore round three takes place in probably the second most covered metal song in the world, Kill The King. One day when I’m really bored I think I’ll throw this along with Rainbow's original, Primal Fear, and Stratovarius’ renditions on a cd-r and play it over and over until I go insane.

The performances by the individual band members on Unlocking The Past are all excellent, my dislike of this album is by no means related to any sort of poor or sloppy playing by anyone. I just find that the song selection is lacking and there just isn’t enough in this album to merit an individual release. If this was packaged together with The Gathering (which by the way is a perfect starting point for newcomers that have just heard of Jorn through Masterplan) then I wouldn’t be near as harsh as I am. Only two parties of fans will be beating down their local record store for Unlocking The Past. The hardest of the most hardcore of Jorn fans and people who simply can’t turn on their classic rock radio station and need to hear these songs immediately.

Killing Songs :
On And On, Fool For Your Loving, Feel Like Making Love
Ben quoted no quote
Other albums by Jorn that we have reviewed:
Jorn - Spirit Black reviewed by Erik and quoted 76 / 100
Jorn - Dio reviewed by Erik and quoted no quote
Jorn - Lonely Are the Brave reviewed by Thomas and quoted 67 / 100
Jorn - The Duke reviewed by Mike and quoted 71 / 100
Jorn - Out To Every Nation reviewed by Marty and quoted 82 / 100
To see all 7 reviews click here
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