Released by: Frontiers Records
Release Date: July 8th, 2022
Genre: Melodic Rock
Links: https://journeymusic.com/
Line Up:
Neal Schon – Guitars, Keyboards & Background Vocals
Jonathan Cain – Keyboards & Background Vocals
Jason Deralta – Background Vocals
Arnel Pineda –Lead Vocals
Deen Castronovo – Lead Vocals on “After Glow”
Randy Jackson – Bass, Background Vocals
Narada Michael Walden – Drums & Background Vocals
Tracklist:
Together We Run
Don’t Give Up On Us
Still Believe In Love
You Got The Best Of Me
Live To Love Again
The Way We Used To Be
Come Away With Me
After Glow
Let It Rain
Holdin On
All Day and All Night
Don’t Go
United We Stand
Life Rolls On
Beautiful As You Are
Has it been 11 years since Journey came back into your living rooms? Remember the time? When the band was scouring youtube and found this Philippine sensation in Arnel Pineda singing all those great classic Journey cover songs? They hired the guy and some long-time Steve Perry fans will never forgive the band ever since?
The reality of the matter remains that Journey was thinking about survival.. imagine a band with so many great Rock hits, and plenty of gaps in their life span in terms of music and successes. How do they remain relevant? Well, you hire a guy who can sing the old hits like Perry, no he is not Steve Perry and never will be. But you don’t need that, just need a competent singer who can carry the torch of this hit-making machine.
When Revelation came out, the first full debut album with Pineda; it was clear that Journey had begun to pave their way some 30 years later, and somehow managed to remain relevant again. This was later followed by “Eclipse” which many longtime fans dismissed for some reason. but it was clear the band was commited to their new singer. For that, you have to give Neal Schon and the band all their due. Revelation along with Eclipse has carried the band across massive tours and cemented Pineda as a more than capable front man.
Now we have their new album “Freedom”, 10 years at least in the making, how would this one measure up? A long time to think about when you are talking about a sophomore release for a new singer right?
The record kick-starts with the opener “Together We Run”, a mid-paced Melodic churner that has all the Journey feels. The keys by Jonathan Cain, the melodious solo by Schon, and Pineda still sound like a more mature version of himself. Pineda’s magical pipes play an intricate role in “Still Believe In Love”, where he shines alongside the trademark Schon guitar licks. A nice jazzy vibe in this one that displays everything Journey is, what it was and still is.
The big ballad comes via “Live To Love Again”, one in which Arnel shines once again. All the hooks are there, the mood, the vibe, the guitars, and the trademark Journey-Esque highs all deliver with delicate intricacy. Next, we get a nice mid-rocker with “The Way We Used To Be”, I like the driving rhythm here, and the drums are nice and tight. Neal delivers some juicy bluesy hooks here and something a little different on a Journey record I think. Diggin it.
The great Deen Castronovo lends his vocals on “Afterglow”, and his amazing pipes just provide a moment of comfort and precision, similar to many of his past vocal contributions in Journey. Deen has always been an underrated vocalist, and what he brought to Journey through the years cannot be understated. Another highlight comes via the chunky bass thumping of “All Day and All Night”, Randy Jackson just smashes here on the bass, another track that oozes groovy all over the place. The drumming here by Narada Michael Walden is fantastic. The last epic ballad “Beautiful As You Are” features a nice piano buildup with a steady rhythm and bass buildup and massive volcanic Schon patented high rising solo.
This is most likely not a conventional Journey record, and I’m fine with that. You have a band that is creating something that still encompases a mix of all their typical elements, and with a capable front man to lead them, the music on “Freedom” is seamless and easy to digest. The production is razor-sharp, other than for a couple of songs where Pineda’s vocals sound a bit drowned by the drums and bass. It’s a very solid release by a band that has a repertoire that can put most to shame. To be able to keep doing this so many years later it’s worth high praise.
Written by: Shadow Editor
Rating 8/10
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