Backwood Spirit was founded in Örebro, Sweden, in 2014 by guitarist and song-writer Kent Engström. After writing and doing pre- recordings of songs with different musicians, Engström teamed up with long time music companion and drummer Joje Lindskoog (Crossroad Jam, Waving Corn) to put a band together. In late 2015, the two joined forces with vocalist Göran Edman (Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum) to start the recording of an album. Tobias Åslund was brought in for the organ and keyboard work in the studio, along with Niclas Boson for the bass who later joined the band. The line-up was completed with Peter Emilson, also with a past in Crossroad Jam, on keyboards.
To say that these guys are in the wrong decade, as well as being from the wrong country, is something of an understatement. This is a band with its roots very much in the Seventies, and with one band in particular, Bad Company. Okay, so Göran Edman doesn’t have a voice like Paul Rodgers, but who does? The more I played this the more I smiled, and the more I smiled the louder I turned it up. This is good time melodic hard rock with a blues edge, and is a delight from the start to the very end. There were times when they do move a little more into Eagles territory, but for the most part this is solid BC all the way.
They should be a British band playing mega stadiums in America, but given that they only have a Facebook page I don’t think that’s the case. But, if you also miss the days when the music seemed to be much simpler and easier to understand, then this is an album that you need to investigate. Music to make the listener happy, who would have thought it? Visit the label at http://www.prideandjoy.de
