Reviewed by Ian Webber

Retroactive Records have over the years come to the rescue of 1980s rock fans struggling to listen to some of their favourite recordings on stretched audio cassettes. This reissue is one such recording that features pioneering Swedish rock legends Jerusalem on their 1985 tour of the USA. For those unfamiliar with the band, they produce a classic rock, close to metal sound that is characterised by layers of keys and Ulf Christiansson's mid-range, accented but warm vocals. Sitting closer to a '70s hard rock sound than the hair metal of the '80s we are treated to a range of their best known cuts with the added energy of a live recording. The title track opens the proceedings with racing guitars and a strong, pulsing bass. There are times when I am reminded of Europe, but others, such as in "Tides", an early U2 can be heard in the keyboard intro. Quieter moments are to be found in between the more standard rock strains. "Read Between The Lines" is one such slower keyboard-led ballad. The versatility of the band can be heard in the range of dynamics and tempo but all tracks feature an up-front gospel message. At times brooding, at others haunting, this recording maintains a sense of urgency until it climaxes with the military style rock of "Man Of The World" and culminates with Ulf's exaltation to "Wake Up Mr Christian". Rob Colwell has made a good job of breathing fresh life into a recording that I always remember as being a little dead and flat in its original state. The only down side to the recording is how the track running order. At times the flow of the music seems a little disjointed, but generally this does not detract from what is a vibrant collection that showcases some of this veteran rock outfit's classic tracks.

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