I always looked forward to a new release from the Allen - Lande project because quite simply you get two of the best voices in hard rock and metal displaying their talents on some great songs. For the first three releases from this project we had the talented Magnus Karlsson (LAST TRIBE, STARBREAKER, etc.) at the helm. He wrote, produced and played most of the instruments on the records and they were always of high quality as one might expect with the players involved.
It’s been four years since the last Allen - Lande record and most thought this project might have seen its day but it is now back with a brand new record, yet Karlsson is nowhere to be found this time around. Taking over the helm is Timo Tolkki (STRATOVARIOUS); essentially filling all the duties that Karlsson did in the past. For some reason some seemed to balk at the idea of Tolkki’s involvement in the project but in listening to this new record I don’t see the concerns.

“The Great Divide” (Frontiers Records) is a worthy predecessor to the previous releases and features some great songs performed by two stellar vocalists.
“Come Dream With Me” opens the album and it’s a soaring song with Allen and Lande offering those familiar voices. The song has a bit of an epic feel and decent little chorus with nice hook. It’s a good opening song. “Down From The Mountain” is a heavier track with a real bite. The guitars have a razor-like feel and both vocalists can shine on a song like this. Tolkki offers up a nice guitar solo on this track.

“In The Hands of Time” has that typical power metal feel as the track gallops along at a fast pace while “Solid Ground” is mid-paced track with a melodic side with keyboard sounds sandwiched between some tougher riffs from Tolkki. “Lady of Winter” has a slower feel without being a power ballad. The song opens with a SAVATAGE feel to it with the piano interlude and soaring guitar but Lande’s guttural vocals bring it into more familiar ALLEN - LANDE territory. “Dream About Tomorrow” is pretty standard fair.

The next two tracks are a couple of the strongest on the record. “The Hymn To The Fallen” is very epic sounding with some later day DIO influences with some stellar guitar work from Tolkki. The title track, “The Great Divide”, clocks in at almost seven minutes and is epic as well but very moody as it trudges (not in a bad way) along. Lande’s vocals are passionate and the song again reminds of SAVATAGE from the “Streets” period in its arrangement. 

“Reaching For The Stars” has a vintage ALLEN - LANDE vibe with a catchy, melodic chorus and could easily have come from any of the previous A - L records. Ending the album is “BitterSweet” and it is a slower-paced song and very much in ballad territory.
      
“The Great Divide” has some new twists and arrangements with Tolkki now at the helm but it certainly sits comfortably alongside the first three ALLEN - LANDE records and is a worthy addition if you are a fan of any of the players involved.