If you're an AOR/Melodic Rock fan, and you'll know if you are, you should love this.
The fourth album from this AOR/Melodic Rock combo from Frontiers is the typical high quality offering you expect, perhaps being slightly heavier with more emphasis on the guitar than some Serafino Perugino/Dennis Ward projects.
The line-up has remained remarkably consistent with only a change of drummer since the original formation, however, as well as the original band members of Ward (Pink Cream 69, Unisonic) and his band mate Michael Kiske (ex-Halloween, Unisonic), there are also a myriad of special guests including Magnus Karlsson (Primal Fear) and Gus G (Firewind, Ozzy Osbourne) bringing something to the table.
Whilst participants may be from heavier bands, this is firmly a lighter melodic project, especially vocals and keyboards-wise. A prime example of this is on 'Strong', although inevitably there is some effect of the heavy firepower behind the scenes making this, at times, more towards DragonForce rather than FM in approach – an illustration of this being the Classical music-inspired solo on 'Light Before The Dark' featuring the aforementioned Gus G.
If there's a criticism to be found it's that there's no singular stand out track that could be highlighted as unique and original in approach. However, to expect such a thing from a project whose whole intention is to bring back the sound of glory days past would be churlish to say the least. If you're an AOR/Melodic Rock fan, and you'll know if you are, you should love this.
Dawn Osborne