Kindred North is:
Andi Kravljaca – Vocals, rhythm and lead guitars;
Andreas Nergård – Keyboards, bass guitar, drums
There is always a sense of anticipation when a debut single drops into the inbox, because they are totally unknown quantities! This review catches me in the late afternoon and I have abandoned exam paper marking for a cup of tea and a review!
I will share with you first of all what I know about this duo:
“Natural High” is the first single from Swedish/ Norwegian Melodic Rock group Kindred North who will release their self-titled debut album “Kindred North” via Pride & Joy Music on August 21st, 2026! Kindred North is the result of two lifers from opposite sides of the border, bound by something deeper than music. Formed by Swedish vocalist / guitarist Andi Kravljaca and Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Andreas Nergård, the band’s mission is clear: to lead with melody, to play with conviction, and to let skill, songwriting, and performance speak. No presets. No shortcuts, just real amplifiers, real practice, and real stakes. This isn’t nostalgia – it’s a response to the challenge our heroes posed.
Kravljaca (Seventh Wonder, Hydra, Find Me, Thaurorod) and Nergård (Nergard) have spent more than a decade collaborating across stages and studio sessions. With Kindred North, the two pursue a modern hard-rock sound rooted in the studio craftsmanship of the late 1980s.
Named for their kindred bond (Kravljaca/Nergard) and their Nordic roots, Kindred North is a partnership built on a shared obsession with musical excellence. Influences trace back to bands like Winger, Dokken, and Europe, but the goal is not nostalgia. With aggressive guitar solos, downtuned seven-string riffs, soaring vocal lines, dense harmonies, and unapologetically big choruses, the band aims to realize “the future the 1980s promised but never happened”.
This philosophy defines the band’s self titled debut album. The record is a manifesto of execution, where technical competence, emotional songwriting, and raw performance coexist without irony or retro posturing. The result is a tight, focused, brazen record that refuses to phone it in – a conscious rejection of hyper-quantized production in favor of human urgency and momentum.
Tracks like the explosive opener “A Guiding Heart,” and the infectious and high-energy “Natural High,” showcase the band’s range: from driving hard rock to synth-infused melody, always anchored by strong musicianship.
The album, produced by Kravljaca and Nergård, with vocal sessions engineered by Daniel Flores at Sound vs Science Studios in Stockholm, guitars tracked at Finnthorpe Studios, and remaining instruments recorded in Norway. Mixing and mastering were handled by Simone Mularoni (DGM).
Kindred North exists not to recreate a bygone era, but to honor the discipline, ambition, and emotional honesty that once defined it.”
My review:
The single is out now, I have placed a link to stream it at the end of this piece, and you can watch the visualizer too!
This is a commercial AOR number that takes us back to the heady days of Eighties rock (think Kiss’ “Crazy Nights” or perhaps Europe). These guys definitely have the musical chops to deliver an upbeat track about the early days of love, when two people merge into one.
Of course, heaven is here on Earth when we are with the one we love. If this song were a drink, it would be a fizzy Martini — full of sparkle, energy and plenty of bubbles. It is undoubtedly a song for summer days, but it also packs enough of a rock kick courtesy of a punchy drum sound and a crunchy guitar riff.
There is a guitar break around the two-minute mark that I particularly enjoyed, adding just the right amount of bite without losing sight of the song’s melodic heart. The chorus is catchy, the musicianship is strong, and the whole thing carries the confidence of artists who know exactly what they want to achieve. Ultimately, you want a rock track to entertain, and “Natural High” does exactly that. If this debut single is any indication of what is to come from Kindred North, melodic rock fans may well have a new band to keep a close eye on.
You want a rock track to entertain – this one does the job!
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Stream the single here
By Stevie Ritson
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