GREAT KING RAT - Great King Rat [Japan Edition +1] (1992)

Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section.

Formed by the cream of the Scandinavian Melodic Hard Rock scene from the late '80s / early '90s, GREAT KING RAT included into the lineup vocalist Leif Sundin (later Michael Schenker Group, Treat), guitarist Pontus Norgren (Jeff Scott Soto, The Poodles), drummer Tomas Broman (Humanimal) and Mikael Hoglund (Thunder) on bass, and on this, their self-titled debut featuring guest contributions from talented keyboardist Mats Olausson (Glory, Yngwie Malmsteen, Radioactive et all).

This is the kind of band - and album - where the sound & style is perfectly defined: Great King Rat play the brand of Melodic Hard Rock developed between 1990-1992, that meaning bright, clean production, pristine vocals, melodious yet powerful riffs, subtle keyboard touches and catchy choruses.
Think Hardline, Fate, Gotthard, Jeff Scott Soto's Eyes, TNT, and at places, Mr. Big.

Among the highlights 'Good Times' is a superb slice of catchy melodic rock, the funky 'Woman in Love', 'Ball & Chain', and terrific midtempo 'Take Me Back' with its AORish waves. For a bluesy hard rocker with some Thunder on it, check 'Dirty Old Man Stomp'.



You can hear why Michael Schenker later used Sundin for three albums, and Norgren created such good records with The Poodles, Humanimal, and more.
Top class production sound for this really good slice of early '90s Melodic Hard Rock.


01 - Bright Lights
02 - Good Times
03 - Woman In Love
04 - Ball & Chain
05 - Take Me Back
06 - Follow The Rains
07 - One By One
08 - Dirty Old Man Stomp
09 - Calling For My Angel
10 - Top Of The World
11 - Bad Woman (Japanese Bonus Track)

Leif Sundin (Michael Schenker, Treat): vocals, acoustic guitars
Pontus Norgren (Jeff Scott Soto, The Poodles): guitars
Tomas Broman (Humanimal): drums
Mikael Hoglund (Thunder): bass
Anders Nilsson: keyboards
Mikael Andersson lap steel (on track 6)
Rolf Alex: percussion
Backa-Hans Eriksson: cello (1)
Frans Lugmair: harmonica (7)
Mats Olausson (Glory, Yngwie Malmsteen): keyboards (1, 6)




GREAT KING RAT - ST [Japan Edition +1] (1992)


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