The fate of many bands is left to chance and circumstance. In the case of Sweden's DALTON their original go around took place in the mid 1980's, as ex-TREAT drummer Mats Dahlberg formed the band. Releasing their debut album "The Race Is On" in 1987 and a second album "Injection" two years later - the 1990's were unkind to most of these acts as the Grunge movement killed their brand of polished Melodic Metal/ Hard Rock.

20 years pass and we finally get the third studio album "Pit Stop" - and being my first exposure to the group, it sounds like they haven't lost any of their creative step or musical chemistry in this style based on these 11 songs. This is prime time Scandinavian Melodic Metal, emphasizing a lot of AOR/ Glam oriented multi-part vocal harmonies, hook lines that are equally addictive from either the guitar or keyboard perspective, and a rhythm section that keeps things locked and loaded for the song at hand. Four prominent bands come to mind when taking in strong material like the organ-heavy "Bad Love", peppy "Hey You", or mid-tempo anthem "Something for the Pain" - EUROPE, DEF LEPPARD, BON JOVI, and THE POODLES. All 5 musicians are capable of providing vocals, so that makes the choruses easy on the ears and gains immediate retention properties even with casual listening.

Bo Lindmark has one of those bluesy, semi-Glam type voices that has a lot of current Scandinavian textures, along with reminders of Michael Bormann and Jon Bon Jovi - check out his lower, sultry elements on "50/50" and tender restraint during the acoustic oriented power ballad "Follow Your Dreams" that could have been a hit if issued in the prime time late 80's. Pristine production values, smart songwriting, and an emphasis on keeping the hooks both vocally and musically in your face right from the start.

I know there are plenty of people who enjoy that brand of Melodic Metal/ Hard Rock that was a touch more about the music than overblown image - if so "Pit Stop" from DALTON is right in your aural wheelhouse.