Frontiers (label)
20 February 2015 (released)
26 January 2015
Driving melodic hard rock – exactly what you might expect from a band comprised of 1 part Whitesnake (Doug Aldrich – guitar), 1 part Journey (Deen Castronovo – drums & lead vox) and 1 part Night Ranger (Jack Blades – bass). Powerful riffs and soaring vocals, massive drums and excitement from start to finish. When these guys are good they are very, very good.
There are a thousand German bands plying this particular vein of rock along with Swedes and many, many 2nd rate Americans but the genre comes to life when played by guys of this pedigree and you begin to hear what melodic rock is supposed to be about – non-formulaic and without constraints.
Aldrich’s guitar is particularly fierce. Soloing and riffing in equal part he avoids the extremes of fretboard widdling and plays some immense stuff. Jack Blades bass has always been strong but he seems to have a new lease of life on these tracks, almost jazz-like as he plays more than the usual “doof doof doof” basslines but the real surprise for me is the vocal talent of Deen Castronovo. He has been doing backing vocals for Journey for years but here he takes the lead and shows he really does have a voice to be proud of as well as some great drumming and percussion.
Allessandro Del Vecchio contributes keyboards as well as his production duties and adds a layer but the strength is in the playing of the main three and that is where this stands or falls and, for my money, brings a tired form back to life.
There are a few standout numbers – ‘Locked Out Of Paradise’ has a huge soundscape and terrific swing to it, almost Schenker like while the ballads ‘You’re Not Alone’ and ‘Way To The Sun’ both carry emotion in an anthemic manner and show that the band is more than just bluster and blast.
‘Better World’ is destined to be a live favourite bringing all the talents together.
This is music that really has to be heard live but on record it also works passionaltely, massively and seemingly unrestrained.
