It’s an unbelievable task to try and top a phenomenal debut release such as GRAND DESIGN’s “Time Elevation" (2009) as it achieved a 5-star rating here on RockEyez. It also was named in the top ten best releases of that year on our site.
(http://www.rockeyez.com/reviews/cd/grand-design/rev-2009-09-br-time-elevation.html) 

The bands sophomore release, “Idolizer” comes out October 28th on the AOR Heaven label and we have it in hand already here at the RockEyez office. The sound and persona of the band is pure classic melodic rock with flashbacks of the great 80’s melodic rock scene. Would it be possible for the band to keep the flow that so many before have failed to do with their second releases?

As soon as I popped it in the CD player I realized these boys have not lost their style or sound! Only a few bands on earth in this genre, maybe VAN HALEN and DEF LEPPARD, can measure up with phenomenal sound and production on a release and GRAND DESIGN have mastered that part of their music. These guys are a class act and the first track “Get On With The Action” is total combustion arena rock at its finest. Loud, heart-pounding and catchy lyrics with melodies that surpass anything you’ve heard in a long time.

If your head ain’t rockin’ and your feet not stomping you must be dead because “Change Me Up” brings home the goods! Pleasure-filled hooks, slicing guitar by Peter Ledin and a chorus that takes this bands presence to another level. Pelle Saether is a musical genius and vocally can’t be touched; this guy stands alone on a new plateau in the new millennium. He can reach the high notes and beyond making the man himself an entity. These guys are the total package and are just unbelievable songwriters, musicians and (if there was any justice) soon to be superstars!

With a soft rocker GRAND DESIGN hit ya with “Your Love's A Runaway” and those killer drum beats by Richard Holmgren are so insinuated you gotta be drawn to his technique.

Another top-notch track “Stealin' My Love” will draw comparisons to DEF LEPPARD and would that be bad thing with LEPPARD selling multi-platinum releases in their day? One of my favorite tracks has to be “Addiction For Love”, which has that same tantalizing aura as DEF LEPPARD’s “Love Bites”. You can really feel the emotion in Saether’s voice and that is why he is a master and should become an icon along with so many greats of the genre. One thing is to just sing a song but if you can’t feel the song that you’re singing and put full emotion into the lyrics then you’re wasting the time of the band and the fans. You won’t hear that with GRAND DESIGN!

Check out “Idolize Me” as it sounds like bombs going off, not sure if it’s the double bass drums but damn this track would sound great live. The harmonies will blow you away too!

Complete crowd participation will have the house rockin with the song “Rock Back To The 80's”. Let’s get those hands in the air and sing along with GRAND DESIGN because that will be happening anyway so you might as well get onboard.

Ending the disc with the hard rocker “You're Gonna Dig On It”; it’s yet another classic tune that pushes the levels higher for this record. It’s hard for me to even come to a judgment on the future of this band… will they sell platinum, double platinum or more??? Well, nobody does that anymore in this day and age but with GRAND DESIGN’s “Idolizer” it won’t be because of lack of quality.

Do you think I like this record?

BUY IT, Buy it now!!!! Pre-buy it…. Just get the damn thing and you’ll love it!