Velveteen Queen - "The Greater Good" album review

Velveteen Queen – ‘The Greater Good’

Reviewed by Gareth Griffiths

There’s something comforting when you find that a hard rock or metal band hails from Sweden, such is the country’s reputation for producing some brilliant so-called ‘Scandi-rock’ bands over the last 15 – 20 years. You know that you’re going to get great rock music and sing-along choruses bolstered by top notch production and crystal-clear sound. Velveteen Queen are no exception, as evidenced by their sophomore album ‘The Greater Good’, due for release through Silver Lining Music on 18^th September 2026.

Since bursting onto the music scene in 2022, the young Swedes have worked hard to forge an excellent reputation with some high-profile festival and support slots, high energy live shows and a highly acclaimed debut album in 2024’s ‘Consequence of the City’ (a lot of ‘highs’ in there!). The determination paid off, as Samuel Nilsson (vocals), Lukas Axx (guitar), Noah Mardh (guitar), Vilmer Fall (bass) and Isac Borg (drums) travelled to Copenhagen, Denmark to record their second album with guitarist/producer Soren Andersen (of Glenn Hughes fame) at his very own Medley Studios. Can they build on that kind of momentum with the finished product on ‘The Greater Good’?

Opener ‘Too Far Gone’ is a swaggering rocker with the same attitude as early Aerosmith whilst the title track evokes memories of the kind of boogie-woogie rock n roll perfected by Michael Monroe and Hanoi Rocks… with a definite hint of Illusion era Guns N’ Roses too. The icing on the cake is Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Peter Keys making a special guest appearance on piano! ‘Talk or Walk’, driven along by the bass and guitar riff, will have you bouncing around the room and searching for a bottle of Jack Daniels whilst ‘Adrenaline’ would’ve lit up 1980s Sunset Strip with its party-anthem vibe and sing-along chorus. Close your eyes and you can see the neon lights and billboards and almost smell the famous Whisky a Go-Go!

There’s a more modern edge to ‘Can’t Go Back in Time’ that will appeal to fans of Velvet Revolver’s rocking song ‘Slither’ from their 2004 debut. ‘Chains’ dials down the tempo and volume with an acoustic sound that will go down a treat in a live environment. You know… the song where the band all sit on the edge of the stage with a beer, as if singing around a campfire! The volume returns with ‘It Ain’t Over’, another good going melodic rocker, and ‘Liar’ where the opening riff is interspersed with the sound of police sirens… just like back in the heyday of rock n roll! ‘Best of the Beast’ is sleaze rock at its best and will have you writhing around your livingroom in various rocker poses, causing the needle to skip on your now vintage record player! It’s so much fun that you’ll feel as if you’re reliving your youth!

It’s well known that this writer is a sucker for a rock ballad and I’m delighted to report that Velveteen Queen deliver with the kind of confidence and assurance usually reserved for more experienced artists! ‘Sorry’ is quite simply sublime. Melodic yet not too over produced or sugary sweet. Dim the lights and wallow in the wonderfully melancholy feel of the song, where you feel the heartache in every lyric and musical note! Closer ‘Try (To Believe Me) pumps the volume back up and brings more swaggering, rock n roll attitude that acts as the perfect bookend to the album opener. Who said track order doesn’t matter on an album?!

With ‘The Greater Good’, Velveteen Queen have built on the solid foundations of their debut but added more attitude, charisma and rock n roll swagger – just like their heroes in bands such as Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses and Hanoi Rocks. If, like me, you have reached middle age and yearn for the glam rock golden years of the 1980s when you had hair and waistline, then this one is straight outta Sunset Strip and will appeal to every musical bone in your ever-degrading body! It’s comfortingly familiar music, yet daringly modern at the same time. Get your copy of ‘The Greater Good’ (vinyl would be best!), put down the needle, turn the volume to 11… and decide for yourself! But for this writer, Velveteen Queen might just be the new rock n roll saviours!