H.e.a.t's debut in 2008 really opened the way for new AOR bands in Sweden again, like Alien, Treat and Europe did back in the 80s . There´s been many new Swedish AOR releases but I have to say that Diamond Dawn is one of the better ones. DD's debut is filled is pure 80s AOR in the same style as the H.e.a.t's debut. The album starts off with the AOR cracker Into Overdrive, this is a nice song with tons of melodies and an awesome chorus. The next song Take Me Higher holding the same class as H.e.a.t with lovely keyboards and a damn catchy chorus. The chorus of Cryin´ has lovely dut-dut keyboards and is AOR by numbers. Indestructible is pure AOR heaven with layers of keyboards and a fantastic chorus in the best Work Of Art style. The Hunter has Alien written all over it and filled with stunning melodies and a memoarble chorus. Don´t Walk Away is a strong AOR-ballad with great vocalperformance, here he reminds a bit of Kenny Leckermo (ex-H.e.a.t), not the same power but still a great voice. The album rounds off with Powergames and this is a fantastic AOR-rocker with crunchy guitars, fantastic keyboards and a classy chorus. This is a strong debut album and holds almost the same class as H.e.a.t´s debut. So if your a AOR-fan then this is a album you can´t avoid. Get it right away. This year has started with absolutley awesome with couple of essential AOR-released with Diamond Dawn, Edge, Phoenix Rising, Wild Rose, Rage Of Angels, W.E.T and it´s just February.
