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As the title track kicks in and opens the album, it’s like Christmas, your birthday, and the last day of school all rolled into one. Interestingly, it’s Deen Castronovo who sings the first few lines. Not only a powerhouse drummer, Castronovo possesses an incredible voice. I still remember spitting a beer out in surprise when I heard him take lead vocals on ‘Mother, Father’ during a Journey gig years ago. When the unmistakable voice of Johnny Gioeli comes in, it’s like the return of a long lost friend. So good to hear the pair of them back together. Melodic hard rock, par excellence. The title track leads into ‘Through’, the first single from the album. As an opening one-two, these two are untouchable. Castronovo again begins with his soulful vocals, before the pair trade lines with each other. Gioeli sounds amazing, his work with Axel Rudi Pell kept him in the limelight, but here he takes it to another level. A soft intro, then straight into some of the best melodies since the golden days of Journey. Remember, it was Neal Schon himself that asked Gioeli and his brother Joey, if he could play with them in Hardline. With such a strong opening salvo, it would be natural to worry that the album had peaked too soon, but thankfully, the ten remaining tracks don’t let the magical opening go to waste. The only quibble could be that perhaps ‘Through’ would be better off later in the running order. The sultry intro of ‘Who I Am’ builds into a smouldering bedroom moment that out-Coverdales David Coverdale. Any video would have to be shot with soft focus effects, and candles… lots of candles. Gioeli excels on power ballads; Exhibit A being ‘Can’t Find My Way’ from ‘Double Eclipse’, and although ‘It’s All About You’ doesn’t quite reach the same heights, it’s still very strong. Covering ‘Need You Now’, from platinum country act Lady Antebellum, took me by surprise. A firm favourite wherever there is prosecco and a karaoke machine. A go-to song that has been sung by many a tear-soaked-mascara-ruined individual on a Friday night. Here Gioeli duets with Giorgia Colleluori from Eternal Idol, and you know what, it’s actually good fun. ‘Ride Of Your Life’ is the best song that Journey never wrote, and has Castronovo delivering a stunning vocal performance. Alessandro Del Vecchio keeps it all rattling along at a fair old pace with his exquisite keyboard sound, but it’s Castronovo’s baby. Ending on the stripped back, bare bones of ‘Let Me Out’, ‘Set The World On Fire’ is a joy from start to finish. With both artists constantly on the road, chances are that any Gioeli-Castronovo live dates will be limited, but this pair walking out on stage, unannounced, and playing these songs, at the annual Frontiers Rock Festival? Chaos would ensue, grown men would weep, memories would be made. Make it happen, guys. Available now on Frontiers Music Review: Dave]]>
