Released by: Frontiers Records
Release Date: June 9th, 2023
Genre: Melodic Hard Rock
Links: https://www.facebook.com/TheDefiantsOfficial
Line Up:
Paul Laine: Vocals
Rob Marcello: Guitar
Bruno Ravel: Bass
Van Romaine: Drums
Tracklist:
1. Hey Life
2. Go Big Or Go Home
3. 19 Summertime
4. What Are We Waiting For
5. Miracle
6. Against The Grain
7. So Good
8. Love Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
9. Another Time, Another Place
10. The Night To Remember
11. Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now
The Defiants are back with their third offering titled “Drive”. The outfit that brought back all the Melodic feels of those great 80’s Rock days of old. Not to anybody’s surprise when your members are comprised of former Danger Danger members like Paul Laine, Bruno Ravel, and Rob Marcello. The Frontiers label while receiving its due criticism from some over the parallels in a lot of the products they release, they have certainly hit on some of those products out of the ballpark. One of those is The Defiants.
With a really good debut offering in 2016, the instant hooks of the melodies and groove of that debut left a mark on many Melodic Rock purists. They later came back with their sophomore release “Zokusho” and after much delay in the releases due to you know what, like many artists, they got a chance to polish the new offering “Drive”. The wait is over and the guys have delivered yet again with another pure slab of classic 80’s Melodic Hard Rock, equivalent to their debut. It’s easy to see the chemistry that Bruno Ravel and Rob Marcello have, it’s on full display here as they work to keep the grooves in this album on point. Paul Laine continues his excellent vocal performance, his pipes don’t have to overbear as he dynamically weaves in and out of these addicting hooks with little effort.
The single “Hey Life” is the first to kick things off and it features a super catchy chorus and nice steadfast groove, in any other era than now, this sound would be catchy as hell and deserving of best song on the album. The big hooks of “Go Big Or Go Home” is another banger, Laine flourishes here as well with another super addicting groove and chorus. The slower tempo in the ballad “Miracle” brings memories of Def Leppard, with more high-rising vocals from Paul, job well done. The hits keep coming with “So Good” with more scorching firepower and sultry hooks, the nice solo midway keeps things flowing nicely, this tune has it all, you’ll be dancing in no time. Really dig the AOR touches in “Another Time Another Place”, which brings flashes of later-era Steve Perry Journey… such a good song.
The Defiants are one of the few projects that can still capture the 80’s essence and just sound and feel good, as intended. For fans of the D2 era, this is a must-have, it has all the touches of old, but with modern nuances, and it is strikingly refreshing without compromising who the band is. The chemistry between the D2 guys is impeccable. Paul Laine does a marvelous job on vocals, and as mentioned before Ravel/Marcello team just keeps plowing away and delivering music that is top-notch Melodic Hard Rock. This is an essential get for any fans of well-played music. For sure one of the top releases this year, no fillers allowed here!!!
Written by: Shadow Editor
Ratings: 9/10
Editors Pick 
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