To say CHRISTIAN LILJEGREN is prolific is an understatement.  At about 40 albums since 1986 this Swedish vocalist pushes his "Melodic Passion" wit ten songs of fine melodic rock rooted in a sweet 70s vibe.  Think RAINBOW, URIAH HEEP, even QUEEN in places, all with a distinctly European/Scandinavian feel, as opposed to a more North American Vibe.

The other thing that is clear this is a very much about faith as it is about the music.  The religious message is writ large throughout, and perhaps for my sensibilities a little heavy handedly at times, which can taint the lyrical content.  This said it cannot detract from the high standard of the musicianship and the sheer honeyed velvetiness of CHRISTIAN's voice, Part JOEY TEMPEST, a bit of NATHAN JAMES, powerful, melodic, bluesy, ballsy, brilliant. Actually the music has that retro melodic rock feel EUROPE do so well.

Title track "Melodic Passion" with its heavy keyboard lead in sets the pace and tone nicely for the rest of the music.  "Salute For The King" has a bit of an acoustic intro growing into a real rhythmic vibe, a real cool groove. "The Rock", does rock nicely, but is one of the songs that has a very direct and ever so slightly heavy handed message.  The music however is fantastically constructed, so I can forgive.

 "This Is My Love Song" does exactly what it says on the tin. This works as a deeply heartfelt and personal message to family, friends and faith.  The strings and acoustic stylings have an almost BEATLES feel. Aptly both "The Victory" and "Dead Or Alive" starts with a Church Organ sound, as both are heavy handed songs with its Christian message too loud and large for me.  Some of my fellow reviewers would have probably burst into flames!  Again though the music is sublime, especially the excellent soloing in "Dead Or Alive".

"I Breathe" has a gentle refrain, and a beautiful tone to Christian's voice. "History" is a song of the age, very much about the conditions we find ourselves in today, and how faith can help us all.  For me the message falls flat, which is a pity because again the musicianship is great, the tune is fantastic, I just think a bit more subtle presentation of the message could have worked just as well.

I'm sorry but by then I found it too much for me.  No matter how much I thought of the music the package had lost me, and the last two overtly message heavy songs, well for me no amount of melody and virtuosity can help. It really pains me to say, when the musicians who put this together are clearly so good, and the music is up my street, but when the message is about a subtle as being smashed around the head with a gold brick wrapped up in a slice of lemon, well I surrender.

Perhaps god has the best musicians, but the devil has the best tunes.