Uber talented Scandinavian musician, songwriter, producer TOMMY DENANDER brings 40 year career full circle. When only 15 years old, he signed his first record contract with Swedish hard rock band ATC with Polygram/Vertigo who then released their only album entitled ”Cut In Ice” in April 1984.
One thing stood out in all reviews and articles and that was the ”wonder-kid” Tommy Denander. Despite the chance of maybe becoming a young rock star and guitar hero Denander followed his heart into the world of becoming a studio musician, songwriter and producer. 40 years later that move proved to be a smart one with having worked on more than 3000 albums, big movies and touring the whole world with some legendary artists.
So, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of how it all started Denander decided to re-record the whole ATC album together with new American singer Rob Blake and trusted drummer Neil Anami. It’s a perfect blend of keeping the old school hard rock of the original but with an up-to-date production.
The albums is being released by Pride & Joy Music as part of their Classixx series, limited to 500 copies.
You can’t go wrong with the material on ”Cut In Ice – Revisited 1984-2024”: this is awesome mid-Eighties Scandi melodic hard rock with ‘that’ type of songwriting, and needless to say, musicianship is top notch. And vocalist Rob Blake is a real find.
In the early 1980s, Sweden experienced a resurgence in the hard rock scene, marked by a number of emerging bands such as Wildness, Norden Light, Lynx and others. ATC was one of those bands that made their mark during this time. Although there were some less than impressive releases during this musical era, a few albums stood out, including the full-lengths by Norden Light and Lynx, which were considered particularly successful.
These bands often did not represent the harder metal, but tended to be medium to slow tempo melodic rock, often reflecting the European sound that influenced bands like Horizon. ATC differed from many typical bands of the time by not presenting themselves as one of the many wannabe European bands. Instead, they offered slow, powerful hard rock, similar to the style of Vanguard.
Although ATC didn’t break any new musical ground with their album “Cut In Ice”, it is still considered to be pretty decent hard rock and is one of the more recommendable releases from Sweden at that time. Particularly notable was the guitar-driven sound, which highlighted the talent of the band’s guitarists and ensured that ATC found their own niche in Sweden’s rich musical landscape.
A dynamic change in the album is the track “Reach Out”, which increases the tempo and intensity. This song stands out with some of the best riffs and lead guitars on the entire album. Particularly impressive are the extended solos, which are superbly executed and underline the album’s crisp and clear production.
Another notable track is the band’s quasi-self-titled piece, which highlights ATC’s strengths. The twin guitar work is particularly noticeable here, with powerful riffs and intense squeaks that cause a stir right from the intro. Lyrically interesting themes and a fast-paced guitar part towards the end of the track make this song another highlight of the album, which impressively demonstrates the band’s musical diversity and skill.
The energetic “It’s Alright” add a touch of American glam metal, a wave that reached Sweden too, and ATC also absorbed.
Overall, this release is more than just a re-recording of old material; it is a comprehensive document that celebrates and honors Tommy Denander’s long-standing contribution to the music industry. It offers fans and new listeners alike the opportunity to fully appreciate and understand the historical significance of ATC and the role it played in Denander’s career.
The guitar work on this album is superb, with impressive leads and powerful riffs that not only drive the songs forward, but also show a level of maturity that originally a young kid Denander still had to develop.
HIGHLY Recommended
01 – Cut In Ice
02 – I’m Alive
03 – Reach Out
04 – Above The Clouds
05 – Hard To Believe
06 – It’s Alright
07 – Bursting Out
08 – Nobody’s Heroes
Vocals – Rob Blake
Guitar, Bass, Keys – Tommy Denander
Drums – Neil Anami