Finnish rock band Beyond A.C. releases their first album on all streaming services. Their eponymous debut is a rock, hard rock and rock’n’roll record with ten hand-crafted songs. Some of the tunes are brand new, some come from a different time and a place. Years and years ago, these guys had a band together somewhere beyond the arctic circle.

Totally timeless, “For Better For Worse” rocks like AC/DC, Little Richard and the Rolling Stones having a threesome. “Hero With No Name” is a cartoon rocker about an unknown hero who saves the day. The ballad “Behind the Sun” is about of longing and solitude. For contrast, “Absolute Power” finds the band channeling their inner Iggy Pop.

There’s a cover tune halfway through: “(Just a) Little Bit More” is one of the better-known 22-Pistepirkko gems, yet lost in time. Starring the brilliant Finnish pianist Christopher Forsman (who tinkles the keys also on “For Better For Worse”) and the soulful British singer Phillipa Cookman, “Can This Be Real?” is a Beyond A.C. original in the traditional blues rock form. “For No One” paints a strange picture with moody 90’s alternative rock influences.

“My World” situates somewhere where 80s Ozzy Osbourne meets Jane’s Addiction and Hawkwind – far as possible from the online world. Melancholy “Let It All Come True” reminisces the past and ponders the future-defining crossroads that life tends to offer. “Savage Queen” provides an epic hard rock ending for the album. 

 “It’s cool that no matter when the songs were written, they really work well together”, the band comments. “That’s because we know what we’re doing and what we want to sound like. We always have.”

Line-up:
Kristian Herkman: vocals, keyboards, saxophone
Janne Särkelä: guitar
Jake Tani: bass
Ari Väntänen: guitar

Guest musicians: Santiago Ortola: drums, Christopher Forsman: piano, Phillipa Cookman: vocals