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Jeff Scott Soto re-records 11 tracks from his incredible back catalogue – calls in some friends to help out…an idea so simple in its execution that you might just wonder why Jeff Scott Soto didn’t think of putting together something similar earlier in his career. The answer is of course that the revered vocalist and all his guests would have been busy on the road, but, the other C-word struck, meaning spare time for cool shit other than binge-watching re-runs of Game of Thrones to see if the last season still sucked – spoiler alert, it still does. The end result is ‘The Duets Collection – Volume 1’, an album that is such good fun it should be on prescription.
Soto is at his heaviest on the razor-sharp riffage of ’Livin’ The Life’ (lifted from the ‘Rock Star’ movie soundtrack), and the opening track to this collection is a stellar example of why most people are into heavy music for life – it’s simple, headbanging FUN. With Erik Martensson (Eclipse/W.E.T.) along for the ride, it’s a total riot. Two guys just letting rip, and it is fantastic to hear Soto perform heavier material. Dino Jelusick is one of the rising stars on the hard rock scene at the minute, and anyone unfamiliar with his time with Animal Drive will be seeking out anything with Jelusick’s name attached after they check out ‘Don’t Let It End’ from Soto’s time with Yngwie Malmsteen. Both contrasting vocal styles playing out in front of a backdrop of fast, fiery riffs (well, it is a Malmsteen song after all), and it is easy to see why David Coverdale has recruited Dino into the Whitesnake ranks. The evergreen Eric Martin lends his unmistakable pipes to a thrilling cover of Talisman’s ‘Mysterious’ that packs one hell of a swing and the ‘Life In The Fast Lane’-like riffs at the end are so catchy that it’s impossible to keep the air guitar locked away in its case. ‘Believe In Me’ features Nathan James of Inglorious, and at some point down the road, these two need to perform this one live; on a nightly basis. Instantly memorable thanks to the Godzilla-sized vocal hooks. Side One ends with a duet with fellow Journey alumni Deen Castronovo on the gorgeous ballad ‘Coming Home’ – and if anyone needed further evidence that singing drummer Castronovo has a voice powerful enough to drop a charging rhino to its knees, this is it.
Side two drops a few names into the mix that might not be as familiar to as many as Russell Allen from Symphony X (who pops up on the poppy feel-good ‘Callin All Girls’), Hardline/Axel Rudi Pell’s Johnny Gioeli who brings the fire to the old-school metal vibes of ‘Warrior’ (which features some impressive work from Edu Cominato on drums), and ‘Again 2 B Found’ which sees Mats Leven of Candlemass joining the party. Alirio Netto, Renan Zonta, and BJ are three of the leading lights in Brazilian hard rock and it’s a nice touch that Soto has given them a chance to shine amongst such illustrious company, and Netto (‘I’ll Be Waiting’), Zonta (‘Colour My XTC ‘), and BJ (‘Holding On’) certainly rise to the occasion. All are part of a new breed of acts that Frontiers Music has recently signed and Netto’s ‘All Things Must Pass’ album, Zonta’s work with Electric Mob, and BJ’s work on Spektra’s recent album ‘Overload’ all come highly recommended.
The only question left to ask from the one that Journey let getaway is, when can we expect Volume 2?
Available now via Frontiers Music SRL
MUSICIANS
Jeff Scott Soto – vocals, bass, keyboards
Edu Cominato – drums
Tony Dickinson – bass
Jorge Salan – guitars
Howie Simon – guitars, bass
Leo Mancini – guitars
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