SALUTE is a Mikael Erlandsson (Last Autumn’s Dream) project and a pleasant surprise in my book.

‘Toy Soldier’ is the title of the album and we are treated with 12 tracks of quite memorable rock songs that you’ll be humming along to in no time if the melodic side of rock and hard rock is your thing.

Everything is well-crafted and melodic and even though the tempos are quite restrained the music is packed with catchy riffs and choruses that you expect in this kind of rock music.

Sound and style wise SALUTE could very well be a mix of Last Autumn’s Dream, Gipsy Rose, Fair Warning and Def Leppard.

Maybe melodic rock music is a kinda limited genre... but it doesn’t really matter to me if the ingredients are right... and it sure is on ‘Toy Soldier’.

So there’s nothing new or groundbreaking to be found... only catchy rock songs wrapped up in a great production.

That’s really all you need to know. It sounds good played in your car at around 50 mph in light traffic.

So there’s no way around this CD if melodic rock music is your kinda stuff.

Check ‘em out.