A very welcome return for 220 Volt.

Few can disagree that Sweden leads the way when it comes to excellent Melodic Rock bands, the likes of H.e.a.t, Work Of Art, Eclipse and The Poodles merely scratching the surface of the current scene, yet it seems that they've always had a knack of producing quality. Even back in the days before Dalton... before Treat...even before Europe... there was 220 Volt.

Formed way back in 1979, a self-titled debut finally arrived in 1983 and 220V then embarked on an impressive five album run that culminated in 1988's 'Eye To Eye'. Starting out in a more Metallic vein (not too dis-similar to Europe's debut), they shifted towards a more melodic direction with the Max Norman (Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth) produced 'Eye...' which became the band's biggest seller internationally. The band went their separate ways in 2002, one more victim of the Grunge-influenced mainstream turn towards a more miserable, tuneless style of music (yes, you might have guessed I'm not a Grunge fan!). They did re-surface in 1997 to release the 'Lethal Illusion' album only to disappear again, before once again becoming active between 2002 and 2008 to release the compilation 'Volume 1' and live effort 'Made In Jamtland'. Now 2014 sees the release of a brand new album 'Walking In Starlight'.

Still featuring the nucleus of guitarists Thomas Drevin and Mats Karlsson along with drummer Peter Hermansson, lead vocals are now handled by former Therion and Lions Share singer Anders Engberg, whose Dio-esque roar dominates proceedings in spectacular fashion over the thirteen tracks that nod back to 220V's early days while also taking in their later, more melodic direction, yet it all manages to sound relevant for today's market.

From the shimmering, dramatically mid-tempo opener 'Walking In Starlight' through riff-driven Rockers 'System Overload', 'Alive', 'Get Me Out', more groove-orientated numbers like 'Broken Promises', 'Blind' and 'Take A Good Look', melodious anthems 'Stranded' and 'Burning Heart', the ballad-ish 'The Waiting', the searing 'Through The Wastelands' to the epic string-laden ballad 'Guiding Light' that closes the album in spectacular style, 'Walking In Starlight' is one of those records that will draw you back in time and time again. In short, a very welcome return for 220 Volt.

Ant Heeks