Alien is not just a series of films staring Sigourney weaver -Nice as she is,  It’s also the name of a Scandia   AOR band. I remember buying two copies of the bands debut thinking they were two different albums (close!) the original version had Jim Jidhed on vocals on all the tracks and shortly after the this release he left the band and was replace by Pete Sanberg and the album was re-released with him singing half the songs and Jim Jidhed the other half. Strange but true. I have at least  one version still buried somewhere in the collection but all I can remember about it is that has a Bee Gees cover! 

What about this new album then? 

The title track of this particular platter, 'Dark Eyes', opens the album with a definite 70’s rock vibe going on that continues throughout the album. The track comes across sounding like Rainbow but if you imagine Glen Hughes on vocals. Next up is 'Don't Go Away' which kicks off with that  AOR favourite of stabbing keyboards and great guitar interplay. Once again vocalist Jim Jidhed now comes akin to Glen Hughes in style but tbis time with a little Joe Lynn Turner thrown into the mix. 

 Starting off with a simple acoustic guitar track 'Oh Sarah'is a ballad type track that actually reminds one of Jefferson Starship in places and here the vocal style is completely different to that featured on the opening two songs. 'Fallen Eagle' comes over rather like the Gary Moore/Phil Lynott collaboration 'Out In The Fields'  particularly  in relation to the  keyboard riff and from sounding like Glenn Hughes previously, Jidhed now turns in  a canny Phil Lynot impersonation.

'Lethal Woman' is a very hard rock track complete with a big blues influence and is reminiscent of more of the aforementioned Joe Lynn Turner's output track for some reason. 'Wild One' opens with another acoustic guitar track and a grizzly vocal line before turning into an AC/DC style boogie workout. With the next track in the running order, 'Don't Fight It' it sounds like you’ve heard the song a million times before, but is a great little track and brings to mind a cross between Heartland and Heaven And Earth with Jidhed now doing a Chris Ousey impersonation.

With a big drum run leading the way 'Riding With The Wind' displays an extremely strong Celtic influence  and is a very much in the mould of Thin Lizzy in style, think Ten doing Red and you’ll be somewhere near how this track sounds. 'Are You Ready' is a great guitar work out and is very blues-rock with yet more Glen Hughes influence in the vocal and then comes 'Fire (The Game)' which strange as it may sound has a definite Bon Jovi influence but done in the style of late period Rainbow style - don't ask but answers to the usual e-mail address!!! - very commercial probably describes it best. Rounding out 'Dark Eyes' is Sherylee, a lush acoustic ballad that brings things to a conclusion in great style. 

If your fan of late 70’s AOR then you really should get this album bought. Just as the debut Sign album was a great 70’s style album then so is 'Dark Eyes', but the production and sound is bang up to date and Jim Jidhed's vocals are stunning to say the least. More of the same please!

Let us know your views on 'Dark Eyes'

Track List

Dark Eyes
Don't Go Away
Oh Sarah
Fallen Eagle
Lethal Woman
Wild One
Don't Fight It
Riding With The Wind
Are You Ready
Fire (The Game)
Sherylee

Line Up

Jim Jidhed: Vocals
Tony Borg: Guitar
Jan Lundberg: Drums
Berndt Ek: Bass
Mats Sandborgh: Keyboards