Review | Perfect Plan – Heart Of A Lion

Frontiers Music srl

Since entering the scene in 2018 with their stunning debut ‘All Rise’ the Swedish melodic rockers of Perfect Plan, led by charismatic vocalist Kent Hilli have been going strong and steady. In only seven years, the band has produced an EP, a live-album while ‘Heart Of A Lion’ is their fourth full studio-effort. In between working with the band Kent Hilli managed to release two solo-albums plus he sang on the last Giant record ‘Shifting Time’. Furthermore, he was a guest on several other project albums released by Frontiers.

HARDER EDGE

Perfect Plan has in these seven years never been afraid to keep developing their music. The last record ‘Brace For Impact’ had a slightly harder edge, but in a way the band stayed reasonably close to their melodic rock style with an AOR-feel, in the vein of bands such as Foreigner, Europe, Survivor and Giant. ‘Heart Of A Lion’ brings some more of that material including two to three more rockier tracks such as the robust opener ,,Heart Of A Lion’’ and the hard rocking song ,,Too Tough’’ were Hilli really excels.

I have said it before and I say it again, Kent Hilli is at the moment one of the best in the genre. He has range and a very colourful voice plus he can sing various rock styles. Also, he has a band behind him that gives him the opportunity to do so, as all the songs and sound is aimed to bring out the very best of him. Yes, it is a band effort of course, but still…

PERFECT PLAN – THE CONCLUSION

Although ‘Heart Of A Lion’ does not really reveal new musical avenues for this band, fact is that sound, songs and a perfect execution of the material will absolutely astonish fans of the melodic rock genre. Add to that the variety in the song material and you can only conclude that Perfect Plan have found their own little corner in todays rock scene where they rule supreme. Good songs, great guitar work by Rolf Nordstrom and a very adequate rhythm section plus a vocalist on fire…. Again, a master move by Perfect Plan and a contender for many top ten melodic rock lists in 2025. Warmly recommended.

Release date: 28 February 2025