DEGREED has surprised me three years ago, with a little jewel called "Life Love Loss" the band was revealed to the world by Andrew McNiece from MelodicRock.Com who signed them in the rooster of his small record company...In 2011, this splendid album was reissued in Japan with bonus tracks (with a great rendition of OZZY's hit "Bark At The Moon") and a new cover art. So, I had some high expectations for this brand new album and most of it was fulfilled: As always the band delivers that special mix of AOR / Modern Rock with a serious playing level. The external songwriters as legendary Bill Champlin (ex-CHICAGO) & Eric Lidbom (also doing a great job as Producer and backing vocalist) are also very suitable in helping to keep the melodic intensity and the stylistic diversity as main focus.

What strikes the most is their sheer abilities to refresh the classic old AOR recipes with elements borrowed from Pop ("Inside Of Me" / "Access Denied"), Prog Rock ("Follow Her" / "We Don't Belong") or Scandinavian melodic Metal ("Black Cat") with still a solid constancy in their sound. Robin Ericsson is definitely a strong Lead Singer who delivers a full throttle performance all along the record, and who manages to keep a unity in the different musical ingredients that are melted together perfectly here.
I believe that the band holds a great potential in the genre, if they have the chance to collaborate with a right promotion work team, they could reach the higher states in the new Scandinavian Revival scene ruled by H.E.A.T. / THE POODLES or BROTHER FIRETRIBE / THE MAGNIFICENT Etc...

If you don't want to follow the flock, then be curious, please: don't miss it!!!