Mickael Erlandsson is a man who hates to stay unoccupied. Indeed, the Swedish quinquagenarian has been piling up an impressive number of albums like a compulsive collector since his early days. Since 1994 this singer-guitarist, author of five solo opus, appears on fifteen records (in fifteen years!) of Last Autumn's Dream. He has just released the second production of Autumn's Child, his second baby under this banner, one year after the first eponymous album whose resemblance to the work of Last Autumn's Dream was undeniable.
"Angel's Gate" follows in the footsteps of its elder. This is hardly surprising since Erlandsson not only has a voice that is recognizable among a thousand, but also a paw that leaves an equally particular imprint. However, the start of this opus could almost be deceptive. Indeed, while the crew remained stable, the first two tracks proposed are much heavier than what Mickael usually proposes. 'Where Angels Cry' is in this case as 'Aquarius Sky' which starts muted with a violin sound before getting nervous with an enormous riff and then become melodic making of this track one of the best of the album.
The following is more in the vein of what we expected, sailing on oceans with very 90's sounds with 'Don't Say It's Love', very close to Strangeway's AOR productions, and 'A Tear From The Sky', a ballad straight out of the eponymous LAD album. We also sail alongside this spiritual father with the catchy and very rocky Love 'Is Not An Enemy', cross Supertramp's path with the pop 'The Dream Of America' and have a little pause with Cheap Trick thanks to the cheerful 'A Piece Of Work'.
So there is not much new in this release. Nevertheless it should be recognized that this second opus of Autumn's Child has more impact than its eponymous big brother. Except for the two first tracks, "Angel's Gate" remains a soothing cruise populated with moderate but catchy riffs, crystalline solos and seductive melodies. This leads us to regret that the Swedes do not press the gas pedal more often. If that was the case, H.E.A.T., Treat, and other Eclipse would have a fiercer competition.