Second to None

Second to None is Eclipse's second album, released after moving to Italy's renowned Frontiers Records. Carrying over the debut's rawness while stepping toward a thicker, weightier sound with lower-tuned guitars and a tighter ensemble, the lineup — drummer Magnus Ulfstedt and, on bass, Unleashed's Fredrik Folkare — greatly raised the songs' momentum. It is a record that laid out the prototype of modern Nordic melodic rock more clearly. Here the band adopted a heavier, more drop-tuned approach, forming a foothold for its full step onto the international melodic-rock stage. From the powerful chorus of the title track "Second to None" and the catchy drive of "Streets of Gold" and "All I Do" to the melodic shadow of "Body and Soul," songs full of shifting dynamics line up. Erik Mårtensson's singing gains still more expressive power, and Magnus Henriksson's guitar draws sharp hooks throughout. Clearly showing growth from the debut while setting a firm stepping stone toward later leaps, it is an accomplished second album.