NUBIAN ROSE – Mountain [Japanese Edition +2 bonus] 2012 , MP3+FLAC

No doubt one of the best Female Fronted Melodic Hard Rock acts appeared in the last two decades, Swedes NUBIAN ROSE made waves with their 2012 debut album titled “Mountain”, presented in exclusive at several week before its release back in day.

The Japanese Edition of the album – now out of print and a collectors item – featured a different cover art and two exclusive bonus tracks – and we are presenting again in exclusive ”Mountain [Japanese Edition +2]’‘.
Nubian Rose revolves around singer Sofia Lilja as a vehicle for his stardom, but it’s fair to say the music in this CD sounds played by a cohesive band, and a damn fine one. Lilja is a renowned vocal coach in North Europe, recognized for training Swedish TV4-show Idol artists. But this girl is more than a teacher, owner of an incredible register and an overwhelming personality.
And which genre Sofia has chosen for her self-place in the spotlight? Pure, meaty, awe-inspiring ’80s Female Fronted Melodic Hard Rock. And pure in all aspects; songwriting, attitude and sonics. This woman has the pipes and the technique of a young Jackie Bodimead, Kristina Nichols, Gudrun Laos or Lee Aaron, and the fire of a wild rocker.
“Mountain” is the dream come true for thousands of real Female Fronted Hard Rock fans eager for a band and album like this since the early Nineties.

One of the most remarkable attributes of this band is the bite, the attack on every song without losing the melodic sense. This is true polished and melodious Hard Rock with a female at the mic. Songs full of energy, catchiness, foot-tapping choruses… the twin guitar work is always varied and scintillating, plenty of staccato slashing, all over a smashing rhythm section and clever keyboards when needed.
But the star here is Sofia Lilja’s voice. Seriously, this woman is the most brilliant female rock singers we heard in years. Her range, articulation and general permormance blows out of the water already good singers recently appeared such as Issa, Amanda Sommerville or Elizabeth Lzzy Hale – and that’s something.

A track-by-track isn’t neccessary this time our fellow readers, every song has its own charm evoking late Eighties / early Nineties magic.
Just to mention the guest stars, the excellent cover of Lita Ford / Ozzy classic “Close My Eyes Forever” is performed in duet with Mats Levén, one of the finest vocals in the hard rock world and former singer of Yngwie Malmsteen’s band, Therion and Swedish Erotica. And we have former Europe guitarist Kee Marcello who can be heard on the killer hard rocker “Living For Tomorrow”.

While currently Nubian Rose has modernized their sound & style, “Mountain” is A Must Have for every classic Female Fronted Melodic Hard Rock fan – we said back in 2012 ”an album with the smell of a future classic”… and indeed it is for this genre.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Rubicon Music 【RBNCD~1118】
ヌビアン・ローズ/マウンテン

01 – Ever See Your Face
02 – Mountain
03 – Living for Tomorrow
04 – How Am I
05 – Get Ready
06 – Your Love
07 – Once Bitten
08 – Reckless
09 – Close My Eyes Forever
10 – Sisters
BONUS TRACKS for JAPAN:
11 – How Am I (Acoustic Mix)
12 – Reckless (Live)

Sofia Lilja – Vocals
Christer Akerlund – Guitar
Thomas Lindgren – Guitar
Henric Uhrbom – Bass
David Algesten – Drums
Fredrik Akerlund – Keyboards

with:
Kee Marcello – Guitar on 3
Mats Levén – Vocals on 9

MP3 FLAC