2/18/2023 0 Comments Art of illusion x marks![]() ![]() has been praising the 'grand work of art illusion' in the past. Plenty of sing-a-long moments and Swedish AOR at its most technological and crafty approach. ![]() It's their tribute to music that focus on great melodies, big catchy hooks and tons of background vocals. This is what you get when you combine the melodic music of Anders Rydholm (GRAND ILLUSION, Code, Demon Kakka) with the magic voice of Lars Säfsund (WORK OF ART, Lionville). "X Marks The Spot" - the debut album available from AOR-Heaven, Germany and from Marquee/Avalon in Japan, release date: January 2021. I'll be sure to when the album officially releases on January 29 th, 2021.Art Of Illusion interview (2020/)ĪRT OF ILLUSION - It's Melodic Music from Anders Rydholm (keyboards, bass, rhythm guitars) and Lars Säfsund (lead and background vocals, keyboards). All and all, this album was so enjoyable for a great vocals and ballad fanatic like myself and I already want to listen to it again. He often sounded like he was having a blast singing many of these songs, all while bringing the perfect amounts of feeling and power too. His vocals are insanely good and this album felt like a way to feature them in the best of ways. The beacon of light on this album though was undeniably Lars. There was just the right amount of cheesy and pure emotion to keep it entertaining. Not to mention the amount of power ballads was fabulous I love ballads and these guys know how to make great ones that check all of my boxes. I really enjoy the variety of other genres that were sprinkled in throughout this album Rock, Jazz, Pop… I found myself asking “is this Prog Rock?” during a couple of the songs too. Many of the songs are very theatrical, I could almost imagine them on a stage with sets on wheels or big screens. Overall, “ X Marks the Spot” is an album full of surprises. “ Race Against Time” closes the album with a beautiful and emotional ballad, mainly fixed on the vocals with just some soft keys and a short solo in the middle. I really enjoyed the Jazz influence in Rampant Wildfire" too. “ Catch You if I Can” rotates back to the pure Melodic Rock of the first few tracks. This one is so fun and rather silly, yet sounds great with how it was arranged. “A Culinary Detour” proves that much of this album was Lars getting to play around with Musical Theater desires. This song could easily be an aria in a Rock Opera with the visuals the whimsical melodies evoke and the awesome atmosphere every element of this song creates. The orchestration lures you in then the mesmerizing and powerful vocals sinks the hook in. “Let the Games Begin” is another fun and theatrical song. “Snakebite Charm” is such a vibrant song with an 80s feel with the key style. There's such a hopeful feeling to it, even with the song revealing a grim situation for the storyteller. “ Go” is a song about escaping a toxic relationship. I enjoyed the addition of the steel guitar in this song about a touring musician in love (reminiscent of “ Faithfully" by JOURNEY). “ 4 AM” is another ever so lovely emotion-fueled ballad. This pure fun musical theater feel continues in the classic movie themed track “ Waltz For the Movies” too. Lars really shines in this song with some great high notes and lots of vocal dynamics throughout. The song speeds up after the first chorus and becomes a rather wonderful and catchy power ballad. The song starts out with a dramatic piano and a harp that accompanies the vocals. “ My Loveless Lullabyb is a much more theatrical track. This song is a run through a meadow of wildflowers with how lovely and sweet the vocals are and the keys and guitars add more vibrancy to the mix. “ Run” is a light and airy sounding song, melodically. It was interesting that there wasn't much musically surrounding the vocals during the verses other than a wavy sounding guitar riff that created a 'neon lights in the rear view mirror' feeling throughout the song. ![]() “ Wild and Free” opens the album with a song full of glitz and glamour, lyrically anyway. There's lots of drama in the music and catchy hooks that are hard to resist wanting to sing along to. Together, this pair creates a fun filled, borderline addicting Melodic musical album. ( WORK OF ART and GRAND ILLUSION respectively) Lars is currently also the vocalist for Melodic Rock band LIONVILLE along with ENBOUND. The band's namesake is a morph of the bands each member was known for initially. ART OF ILLUSION is a two man band from Sweden. ![]()
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