Released by: Frontiers Music s.r.l.
Release date: 2 December 2016
Genre: Melodic Rock
Links: dariomollo.com , Facebook
Line-up:
Dario Mollo – Guitars
Carl Sentance – Vocals
Dario Patti – Keyboards, Bass Guitar
Ezio Secomandi – Drums
Track Listing
01. Red
02. Take Me High
03. Navigation
04. Rock the Cradle
05. Gates of Time
06. I Got This Feeling
07. In My Blood
08. Running From the Shadow
09. Speed
10. Fright
Dario Mollo has been making beautiful noise since 1981 when he started his first band Crossbones. Since then he has recorded some amazing albums with the likes of Tony Martin (ex-Black Sabbath) and Glenn Hughes (ex-Deep Purple, Black Country Communion) and has blazed a metallic hard rock trail of music ever since. Coming back together with his first project, Mollo brought in original drummer Ezio Secomandi, his longtime collaborator Dario Patti on keys and bass, and vocalist Cal Sentance to the fold to round out the current incarnation. The results are the brand new album Rock the Castle.
If their intention was to create a great classic hard rock sounding album, they nailed it. Taking pages from such great luminaries as Purple, Sabbath, Trapeze, and Uriah Heep, Mollo and his band-mates have created a fantastic album that could easily fit into a late 70’s hard rock vibe, while also tapping into a great 80’s hard rock groove like with Krokus, House of Lords, and somehow managing to keep it from falling into the easy trap of sounding dated. “Take Me High,” “I Got This Feeling,” and “Running From the Shadow” were the highlights for me, but really the album as a whole is pretty tight.
Some may feel like it’s a safe album for Mollo, and in a way it is because its foundation is firmly in his wheelhouse musically, and though it may not be the standout album of the year or of his career, there are some excellent tracks and performances here. Those not as inclined to judge harshly should love this album quite a lot. Dario Mollo’s Crossbones Rock the Castle is a strong release.
Ratings: 8/10
Written by: Chris Martin
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