This is the album I've been
waiting on this whole year. Their first
album "Artwork" was recorded spring and
summer of 2007, and was released in
February 2008. This album gave echoes
around the world and received very positive
reviews and they set a new standard for
the melodic hard rock genre. Their
follow-up album "In Progress" was
released late August 2011 and Work of Art became
a strong trademark and a quality stamp
to high class melodic hard rock with
precious and delicate AOR. Lars Säfsund
on vocals is one of the best voices in
the genre and with Robert Säll's magical songs
makes this new album 'Framework' a
true masterpiece to consume with my ears
and mind. An ear feast for us melodic
rock fans.
Eleven ultra melodic rock songs,
all packed in a fantastic production. I
didn't expect them to manage to make
another album in this caliber. Every
band usually do an album, which doesn't
keep the previous standard, but
Work of Art
overwhelmed me again and after my many
listenings, I can't find one filler
track or filler word or riff. This has
to be on my 'best album of 2014' list
and maybe on the top of that list.
"Framework" opens with the shining song
'Time To Let Go' with driven tempo and a
Mr. Säfsund in a absolute top form.
Robert Säll's guitars ooze of stylish
string performance. The melodic and fine
song 'How Will I Know' is a classy AOR
gem in a mid tempo. I have to mention
the talented and fabulous drummer Herman
Furin's work on all of their albums. Many
times the singer and guitar
player
steal
most of the spotlight, but Herman
is a big reason for the exceptional
sound picture on
Work of Art's three albums. His
sensitive wrists hits the cymbals
perfectly and gives the band it's
high quality rhythms.
'Shout Till You Wake Up' is a
amazing song and it could have been on any
Toto album. This is one of my favourite
tracks! 'Can't Let Go' is a positive and
a great dance song, which is hopeless to
sit still to. There's a huge steam of Toto
on this tune. Another super track is
'How Do You Sleep At Night', which has a
catchy tempo and is a guitar driven
song. One of few down tempo songs is the
brilliant 'Over the Line' with
magnificent chorus, clear vocals and
easy-going tempo. The heaviest song might be
'The Machine' with slightly stiffer guitar sound,
but still in the melodic safety zone. I like the
tasteful tempo reduction before the glimmering
guitar solo in this song.
The first ballad is the
beautiful song 'Hold on to Love', which
is my wife's favourite song by the way. I
thought it was another ballad when
'Natalie' began, but the song
accelerates into an up tempo track with
sparkling keyboards and top notch
vocals. 'The Turning Point' is a
showcase of how melodic rock should be
played; a song with everything packed in
perfect harmony. Fantastic. This
masterpiece of an album closes with a smooth
ballad 'My Waking Dream' and this is one
of the finest ballads I've heard this
year. Work of Art has done it again and
I can't give any other score than the
highest.
My first 99/100 and I stand behind
it. If you like soaring world class
vocals, shiny and driven guitars, airy
keys and amazing drums in melodic hard
rock package, this is a very given
purchase. I'm proud to be a Swede with
such talented countrymen.
Line up:
Lars Säfsund - Vocal
Robert Säll - Guitar
Herman Furin - Drums
