Label – ROAR (Rock Of Angels Records)

Release – January 12, 2018

Genre: Hard Rock

Links: https://www.facebook.com/Panoramarocks

Lineup:

Christian Palin – Vocals (Random Eyes, Adagio)
Dennis Ward – Bass (Unisonic, Pink Cream 69)
Sammy Lasagni – Guitars (Gods of Silence, Kirk, Godiva)
Ben Varon – Guitars (Amoral, Grease Helmet)
Philipp Eichenberger – Drums (Gods of Silence, Kirk)

Tracklist:

1. Around The World
2. Standing My Ground
3. The Glory Within
4. Gates Of Babylon
5. The Highest Mountain
6. Jammin In The Jungle
7. One For All
8. The Other Side
9. Heart Has Been Broken
10. Shout It Out
11. World On Fire

The year was 2008. Two musicians’ paths were destined to cross when Godiva supported Adagio on a leg of their European tour. Sammy Lasagni, then with Godiva, and Christian Palin, then with Adagio, would meet and form a friendship that would culminate with the 2018 release of Panorama’s debut album, Around The World. Since that fateful meeting many years prior, Lasagni and Palin had stayed in contact but because of various reasons, namely other commitments, the two wouldn’t reunite until 2015. It was then that a well-timed telephone call would lend itself to the two men making good on a promise pledged in 2008 to collaborate on some songs together. After the pair had written approximately 15 new tunes, they contacted Dennis Ward to produce their album. Ward was so taken by the music that he agreed to not only produce the album but also join the band as their bass player.

The album opens with the title track. Right away you can tell this band are seasoned musicians and play a tight, driving form of hard rock. We are not privy to which songs Dennis heard first when the guys were pitching the album but it wouldn’t have mattered because each song has something to say and something to give the listener. Personally, I am a sucker for twin guitar attacks (Lasagni and Varon do not disappoint) and because of that, I had a suspicion I would like the album even before I heard the first note. Plus, the pedigree of bands represented within the members of Panorama made me eagerly await this release.

Standing My Ground has such an amazing groove and driving beat that it would be my choice for the first single. The guitars blaze, the drums pound, the bass thumps, and the vocals soar. But, that pretty much sums up the entire album. The Glory Within, Gates Of Babylon, The Other Side, Heart Has Been Broken, and World On Fire also deliver a melodic, hard rock punch that will have you pressing “repeat.” I would be remiss if I did not mention Jammin’ In The Jungle which is quite possibly the most lively tune on the album. The guys seem like they had a lot of fun recording this track.

Fans of melodic hard rock will revel in these new tunes. They are well-crafted, full of energy and fervor, and just flat-out rock! As I stated at the outset, Around The World is Panorama’s debut but is hardly the work of amateur musicians. Every member of this band excels in their craft and I, for one, am thankful for that fateful meeting back in 2008 that ultimately brought these guys together.

Written by: Steve Howell