The Senior Management: Heart & Soul (MelodicRock)

Not quite a “supergroup,” but still pretty damned super, The Senior Management is a Swedish melodic rock band that was formed by guitarist/keyboardist Dennis Heltorp and drummer Henrik Zetterlund and features bassist Magnus Rosen (Jorn, ex-Hammerfall) and vocalist Goran Edman (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen). They released their debut album – Heart & Soul – on the MelodicRock Records label earlier this year, and it’s really something special.

Goran Edman has been in a lot of projects over the years, and they can be hit-and-miss. Heart & Soul may be the best thing he’s done since the all too short-lived Kharma back in 2000. The Senior Management has a similar approach to melodic rock in that they’re willing to color outside the lines, bringing in pop and even country elements to great effect. There’s a Night Ranger feel to some songs, a Nelson vibe on others, and some that could slide right into a modern radio playlist. What’s consistent throughout is first-rate songwriting, impeccable musicianship and vocal harmonies to die for.

Heart & Soul has a lot to offer, from the quirky melodic rock of “Jet Lag in Shanghai” (which could pass for an Ammunition song) to the country-tinged “I See The Light” (which sounds like something Jace Pawlak might write) to the tranquil, almost acoustic “When You Walk Down” (Edman brings big time heart and soul here), it’s a melodic rock album that defies expectations and makes a big impression.

The Senior Management easily surpasses nearly every other melodic rock “project” this year (except W.E.T., some things are just untouchable), and if they stick together they have what it takes to become a marquee name in the melodic rock scene. If you’re a fan of well-crafted melodic rock, and especially if you follow Goran Edman’s work, Heart & Soul is a must-have album.