Rating: 8/10
Label: Frontiers 2011
Review by Kimmo Toivonen
Norwegian AOR queen Issa follows her excellent debut with a rather fine second album. "The Storm" isn't quite as bombastic as the first album, but there's still plenty of big choruses and larger-than-life emotions.
Produced by Daniel Flores, this album is probably the most "experimental" out of the three Frontiers releases of October 2011. AOR purists need not to worry though, no drastic measures have been taken. The overall vibe of the album is just a bit more modern than that of Kimball-Jamison or Fergie Frederiksen.
For me, the album's key songs are the catchy first single "Looking For Love", "Black Clouds" and "What Does It Take". All three are blessed with superb choruses, colourful arrangements and excellent vocals. Other noteworthy songs include "Take A Stand", not a particulary strong song but its' goth leanings add a darker shade to the album. The two ballads have plenty of hit potential, especially "Invincible".
Thanks to a few songs which are merely "nice" in a slightly bland way I'll refrain from rating this any higher than I have done. Good album nevertheless.
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