Worldchanger
Jorn
Now & Then/Frontiers

Jorn (ex-Company of Snakes, Ark, Millenium) is fast becoming the Scandinavian Jeff Scott Soto. Alas, like Jeff, he has stretched himself a bit too thin. Like Soto's Love Parade, Jorn has released a solo album that is not up to the standard of his most recent releases, either solo or in bands. That is not to say that this album is a load of rubbish, far from it. It does seem a bit strained at times, and there is nothing here that is outstanding, just decent. The songs, with the exception of the title track and 'Bridges will Burn', do not have the same catchiness to them that can be found in the originals on Starfire. Jorn mimics Ronnie James Dio, Jeff Scott Soto, and David Coverdale, sometimes in the same song. At nine tracks, the release is a tad short as well. The harder stuff on here just does not work well. One for the fan rather than the uninitiated. Even for the fan, it's a grower.

Marty Dodge: 6.5