King Company: One For the Road

One For the Road is the debut album from King Company, a new Finnish melodic rock band recently signed to the Frontiers label. The band was formed by drummer Mirka Rantanen (Warmen, ex-Thunderstone) and includes vocalist Pasi Rantanen (Thunderstone), guitarist Antti Wirman (Warmen),keyboardist Jari Pailamo (Kiuas) and bassist Time Schleifer (Enfarce).

If Brother Firetribe taught us anything, it’s that these Finnish heavy/power metal musicians can make some very impressive melodic rock. King Company is another great example of that. They bring together super-catchy melodies, driving rhythms and soulful, powerful vocals that harken back to the late ’80s and early ’90s melodic hard rock bands like Nelson, Giant, Gotthard and Tyketto. I loved Pasi Rantanen’s vocals in Thunderstone, and he really shines here. You know exactly who you’re hearing, but you really hear him in a new way on One For the Road.

This is a really talented group of musicians, and they have a good chemistry. Of the eleven tracks on One For the Road, “One Heart,” “Coming Back to Life” and “Desire” are standouts, but this is a rock-solid album from start to finish.

This was a pleasant surprise, and I’m glad to see King Company is a proper band and not just another factory production. The band is off to a good start, and has the potential to be a top tier melodic rock band. If you’re into bands like Night Ranger, Palace, Nelson, The Defiants, Eclipse and Gotthard, you’ll want to have One For the Road.

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