Review | Radioactive – Reset

Frontiers Music srl

For some two decades (and counting) Swedish composer/multi-instrumentalist and producer Tommy Denander is the face and creative brain behind the Radioactive project. Starting out with the first release ‘Ceremony Of Innocence’ in 2001 we are now confronted with the sixth album in this cycle entitled ‘Reset’.

TOTO

All those years ago Tommy was helped by several members of Toto and the feel of Toto has always had a place on all Radioactive records. Mainly known for its AOR content and the fact that Tommy always managed to recruit superb singers for his project some two years ago the fifth Radioactive record ‘X.X.X.’ marked a slight change of style with more heavy rock elements creeping into the sound. Not a bad thing at all. Still, on album number six the main man behind this remarkable project decided to go back to a more AOR-direction that was so imminent on ‘Ceremony Of Innocence’ and its ‘musical brothers’ ‘Yeah’ and ‘Taken’.

BACK TO THE ROOTS

Is ‘Reset’ a complete back to the roots-album? For large parts it is but there are some main differences as well. There are definitely a few up-tempo heavy rockers to be found on ‘Reset’ (,,Sweet Little Tina’’, ,,When The Light Goes Down’’) which bumps up the ‘robust’ factor to a very satisfactory level. This time Denander used less singers than is usual for Radioactive. Jim Jidhed (Alien) and Jeff Paris (who has not done very much the last decade or so in rock) both tackle four songs each and these two veterans still have what it takes when it comes to singing this kind of genre. Great to hear Jeff Paris’ voice again.

It was the aim to make a more ‘band’ type of album by using less singers and ‘Reset’ does sound as a real unity. But for me that is because of the feel that Denander puts in his guitar work and the manner in which he structures the songs. When you look at his other projects, like for instance Rainmaker and the many albums on which Denander functioned as musician and producer, you just cannot dismiss the fact that this man has a certain guitar sound and style.

GUESTLIST

Apart from Paris and Jidhed also Robin McAuley sings on this record (the title-track ,,Reset’’). And a certain Harris Dio Zindani makes a name for himself, being a new discovery by Denander. Also, Joey Vana (son of Mecca’s Joe Vana) is present with his voice while Tommy Denander’s mentor Mutt Lange makes an appearance as background vocalist while also co-writing a few tracks. Bryan Adams long time guitarist Keith Scott plays the solo on the title-track on which Tony Franklin (Blue Murder) plays bass. Just as on ‘X.X.X.’ drummer Neil Anami has lent a hand. All in all, and as always has been the case, there is an impressive guestlist on a Radioactive-release.

RADIOACTIVE – THE CONCLUSION

With the bulk of the songs being very AOR-minded (but with a very modern production) and with a head and a tail Tommy Denander has successfully pressed his own ‘Reset’ button. It is an album that fans of the genre will just lap up as it has all the ingredients a Radioactive-album should have. Still, you can not say that Tommy Denander at the same time has pressed the ‘repeat’ button as this album sounds so much fuller and clearer in comparison with its older ‘family’ members. For sure a release that any fan of the genre should have heard at least once!

Release date: 11 October 2024