Release Date: 17th April
Released By: Frontiers Music
Genre: AOR
Links: https://www.facebook.com/officialjimpeterik
Line Up:
Jim Peterik-Guitars/Keyboards
Marc Scherer-Lead Vocals
Mike Aquino-Guitars
Ed Brekenfeld/Nick Rich-Drums
Klem Hayes/Bob Lizik/Bill Syniar-Bass
Track Listing:
Risk Everything
Chance of A Lifetime
Cold Blooded
Desperate In Love
Thee Crescendo
The Dying Of The Light
How Long Is A Moment
Brand New Heart
Broken Home
Milestones
Your Independence Day
Whatever you want to call it, AOR, accountant rock or yuppie metal, this genre of music has been a constant staying power for the best part of 40 years. Bands like Journey, Styx, Foreigner and Nightranger are just some of the groups still banging out cash churning melodies, and with massive success also.
Jim Peterik, the founder member of Rocky Balboa’s favourite band Survivor, is keeping it lit by teaming up with vocalist Marc Scherer to cross their melodic swords on Risk Everything.
Peterik, a Grammy award winning songwriter in his own right, he has over the years helped pen tunes with the likes of Sammy Hagar, Reo Speedwagon and Cheap Trick, so I must admit my melodic rock taste buds were salivating. Unfortunately the opening two tracks, Risk Everything and Chance Of A Lifetime left me a tad nauseous. If these songs were meant as theme tunes to vomit inducing American sitcoms, then perfect, but they’re annoyingly safe and devoid of backbone.
Thankfully that’s put to bed early with the Survivor dripping Cold Blooded, a master class in toe curling rock melody, Scherer’s vocals are pristine and brilliantly restrained, while Desperate In Love’s scintillating pace and virtuoso guitar solo make for a real quality tune.
If it wasn’t for the cringe worthy lyrics, Thee Crescendo, would be a standout track, but unfortunately there throughout, everything else works great, the neat and tidy hooks are wholesale but you just can’t hide from those bile forming lyrics.
But in fairness, this album refuses to lie down, The Dying Of The Light has nostalgic bells all over, with it’s lovable 80’s vibes, as does How Long Is A Moment, a sturdy ballad with first dance written all over it. It’s no coincidence Marc Scherer is a trained master jeweler, in Brand New Heart and Broken Home his effortless vocal performance has chiseled out a couple of real gems. Penultimate track Milestones perfectly showcases Peterik’s measured and meticulous song writing, with a simple but memorable chorus, it ticks all the boxes. It’s a real pity closing track Independence Day didn’t open this album, a ballsy number start to finish, it gets rid of most of the distaste of earlier tracks.
If you like your rock dangerously heavy on the cheesy side, this record will have your arteries bulging with delight. I personally think it should carry a health warning.
Written by Brian Boyle
Ratings Brian 6/10