Winter in Paradise

Winter in Paradise is a fulfilling third album on which Last Autumn's Dream, using soft, beautiful keyboards, soaring, sweet singing and smooth guitar, splendidly binds the deep sorrow of Nordic AOR and the sure drive of melodic hard rock. The songs, rather than flaunting flashy technique, value above all beautiful melody that naturally leads to the choruses and the sure comfort of the ensemble. A record where the band’s mature songcraft shines. From the powerful drive of the opener “Love to Go” and the drama of “Don’t Let Our Love Go Down” to a cut like “The Way You Smile,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “It’s Alright” and “Echoes from the Past” convey the work’s fullness. Mikael Erlandsson’s warm voice powerfully supports that lyrical world. A record on which a faint, beautiful sorrow is firmly kept even in bright, refreshing passages, and, true to its title, a sure seasonal unity hangs over the whole album. It carefully and powerfully builds up the appeal of mature, refined melodic rock. A refined, engaging record showing early Last Autumn's Dream’s sure fullness — a record where the band’s steady appeal shines.