Niva: Magnitude

Once of the band Swedish Erotica, singer Tony Niva has also previously released two Japanese albums under his own Niva band-name. On both he was aided by guitarist Roger Ljunggren and keyboard player Marcus Persson and the trio are back again for album number three Magnitude, which finds a wider release through AOR Heaven.

For any of those of you whose mind stretches back to Swedish Erotica, you'll remember them as a punchy Melodic Hard Rock act. Niva on the other hand are straight up AOR, with that certain unmistakable Swedish something that ties together a whole multitude of bands and styles from that country. There are also touches of TNT in places, however vocally it is the high octane delivery of Grand Illusion that springs to mind, while Persson's keyboard work brings a huge slice of Abba in both structure and melody and while, obviously, not up to those standards, I'd suggest that if you stripped back the heavier guitars slightly, then the 70s pop giants could be put forward as the main influence here. Unsurprisingly for AOR there's still room for a touch of USA glamour, which arrives in the shape of hints of Survivor or Journey, however with all of these big name influences and styles, the overriding feeling I have once Magnitude is finished, is that it lacks for two things, individuality and variation.

The guitars sing across all of the tracks, the keys match them riff for parp and Niva has, if like me you like high pitched vocals, a wonderfully stretching range, making for a set of songs that bounce along nicely. With the odd heartfelt ballad ("I Feel So Alone"), or slightly grittier number ("Spanish Lullaby"), the sum of the parts really should result in greater rewards and while it would be a lie to suggest that I haven't enjoyed Magnitude from start to finish on every listen, there's no doubting the feeling that I've heard it all a million times before. If however reasonably standard, if shimmeringly presented Scandie AOR is your thing, then doubtless "Never Too Late", "My First And Only One", "Do It Again" and "Never Say Goodbye" will get you all frothy, even if they lack for individuality from each other.

Three albums across twenty years is slow output in anyone's book, so hopefully the core trio of Niva reconvene soon to build on what would be best described as a solid, if unremarkable release. With the vocal talents of Niva, guitar skills of Ljunggren and keyboard class of Persson, the talent is definitely there to make it something pretty special, even if this release doesn't quite come up to that standard.

Track Listing
1. Never Too Late
2. Perfect Life
3. My First And Only One
4. Just Another Heartache
5. In A Misty Light
6. Always Somewhere
7. Let It Shine
8. Spanish Lullaby
9. Do It Again
.10 Never Say Goodbye
.11 Feel So Alone

Added: September 1st 2013
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: AOR Heaven Records
Hits: 2920
Language: english

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