Doesn't have a single USP in what is now a minority genre already brimming with mercurially talented acts.

Whether you are a long-standing reader or new to Fireworks magazine, it's a near certainty that you're familiar with the pivotal Hard Rock renaissance of the eighties. A time where, particularly within the scene's epicentre – the mile-and-a-half long Sunset Strip – the likes of Van Halen, Mötley Crüe and Dokken were genre pioneers. You probably also recall that around the time of that scene's accelerated demise (circa 1991) a host of latecomers who brought nothing new to the party were washed away too...

In 2016, Faithsedge would appear to be playing such a role in relation to the modern wave (predominantly Scandinavian) of Hard Rock superstar acts such as H.e.a.t and Reckless Love. So what precisely do they bring to the post-millennial Hard Rock party? Well, vocalist Giancarlo Floridia can carry a fine melody, ably demonstrated on the chorus of 'Jennifer'; so why does he spend most of 'Restoration' singing with a forced, aggressive edge? Opener 'Never A Day' is a case in point, with Floridia's laboured delivery contrasting oddly with the prominent keyboards of ubiquitous producer Alessandro Del Vecchio.

There are decent moments; 'You Cannot Give Up' is the album's highlight, thanks to a combination of guitarist Alex De Rosso's crunchy riffs, a strong performance by Floridia, and a memorable chorus, while 'This Is Everything' and the aforementioned 'Jennifer' both have their charms – the latter in particular delivering a fine AOR ambience. The album's musical extremities, the ballads 'Faith And Chris' and 'Let You Breathe', alongside its heavier tracks, 'This War' and 'Her Way Back', unfortunately fare less well, due to a uniformly heavy-handed delivery and general lack of originality.

This is Faithsedge's third album, so there are clearly fans out there; however, to these ears 'Restoration' doesn't have a single USP in what is now a minority genre already brimming with mercurially talented acts.

Caesar Barton