SWEET FREEDOM? Really? So, this is not RAINBOW, or DEEP PURPLE? It's not even WHITESNAKE or even MSG? And the singer isn't JOE LYNN TURNER or his little brother? Are you sure? Well, if you are sure, I'll go ahead and review this as the debut album by this current version of SWEET FREEDOM. They are not be mistaken for the Christian Metal band that released "Highway to Heaven" in the eighties. No, this is a pure Melodic Rock/AOR band from Sweden that has been signed by Frontiers Music Srl, and when you hear what the band brings to us on this debut album called "Blind Leading The Blind" the only conclusion is that the record company couldn't not sign these Swedish Rockers.

"Blind Leading The Blind" is going to be the second album this year that I will be giving the full marks of ten out of ten. I have no choice, because if a band is capable of writing songs that have the riffing and guitar structures of RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE, the bluesy undertone of early WHITESNAKE, and with Håkan Nilsson a guitarist that can play riffs and solos like RITCHIE BLACKMORE as well as being able to match the emotive playing of MICHAEL SCHENKER in those solos. I don't know how many superlatives I can use, but the sound on "Blind Leading The Blind" is so perfect that you are unmistakingly transported back to all those bands, and somehow SWEET FREEDOM is able to combine and mix all those elements perfectly.

I can't not mention singer extraordinaire Matti Alfonzetti. What a real powerhouse, what a beautiful and brilliant voice. Like I mentioned, he could easily have been a sibling or descendant of JOE LYNN TURNER. He does sound a lot like him, but still harbours his own timbre and sound. Plus, because SWEET FREEDOM has achieved the ability to write only brilliant songs for their debut album, I am starstruck to say the least. I have been listening to this album time after time, and I can only conclude that I can't find any lesser songs, any mislaid parts, in sort not any fault at all on "Blind Leading The Blind". The next thing I need to do is find out when I can go and see them live. If they can emulate this sound and atmosphere live, we have another super band on our hands. The name is SWEET FREEDOM. Don't forget!