Released by: Frontiers Records
Release Date: May 18th, 2012
Genre: Melodic Rock/AOR
Links: http://www.hardlinerocks.com/
Line Up:
Johnny Gioeli – vocals
Alessandro Del Vecchio – keyboards and backing vocals
Thorsten Koehne – guitars
Anna Portalupi – bass
Francesco Jovino – drums
Tracklist:
01. Fever Dreams
02. 10,000 Reasons
03. Danger Zone
04. What I’d Like
05. Stronger Than Me
06. Never Too Late For Love
07. Stay
08. I Don’t Want To Breakaway
09. Look At You Now
10. Please Have Faith In Me
11. Show Me Your Love
12. The Only One
There are very few bands whose name alone would instill great confidence in me that what I was about the listen to was going to be, at the very least, pretty awesome. Hardline is definitely one of those bands. Despite the fact that singer Johnny Gioeli is the only remaining original member, they still sound like Hardline. Consistency is one of the things that make me love this band with every release. Their fourth album Danger Zone, for Frontier Records, is about to hit the shelves, and fans should prepare themselves for some more incredible AOR/hard rock from this band.
The album opens strongly with the ultra melodic rock “Fever Dreams” and never lets up. Not just because of the past Journey connection of Neal Schon and Deen Castronovo, this band should be held in the same regard as the AOR legends. Their songs are just as catchy and memorable; the band delivers top notch performances, and has continued to get it right. In fact, it’s safe to say that Danger Zone is a much better album than the last Journey release. Gioli has such a signature vocal style there’s little mistaking it’s him. He’s got that nice gruffness to his vocals similar to Robin Mcauly, but has its own life. Songs like “What I’d Like,” “Stay,” “I Don’t Wanna Break Away,” and “The Only One” is instant AOR classics, the fans past and present should fall in love with easily.
Much like Pretty Maids, you know when you’re popping in a Hardline CD, you’re going to be thoroughly entertained and hear some of the best music out there. It’s such a shame they aren’t more popular. This is the sound I want to hear from the AOR scene, and I hope that Hardline will continue to amaze me.
Written by Chris
Ratings Chris 9/10
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