The word "homage" cannot encapsulate the rush of sensations this album gives you. As an unashamed tribute to the glory days of the
AOR/melodic rock genre it works like a dream.
It's clear that the band's mainmen - Pekka (Leverage) Ansio Heino, Emppu (Nightwish) Vuorinen and Tomppa Nikulainen spent the time since the debut honing their songwriting skills to a razorlike sharpness. Simultaneously and systematically shaping their style into one that is emblematic of an era.
That said,
'Heart Full Of Fire' is more passion than pastiche, and much more of a triumph than a tribute.
It's crystal clear that these talented guys have a firm grasp of the essentials and a sharp eye for the finer points, spinning strands of luminous melodies into concise, punchy rock songs.
The song titles and lyrics - full of unerring simplicity and uncomplicated sentiment - come over as a deliberate attempt to be faithful to the music's eighties' heritage, rather than just an artless bid to reinvent the past.
The bouncy, breezily insistent opener '
Who Will You Run To Now' will remind you immediately of
Magnum at their most
AOR and most immediate.
It's an attention grabbing first flourish of the band's spine tingling command of orchestral pace and colour.
The elegant, majestic intro to second track
'Wildest Dreams' tags the band as something really special, with forceful, melodic keyboards, full of fire, drive and urgency, pushing the song into an anticipatory bridge and a towering hook.
And the hits just keep on coming.
'Runaways' is marked out by a powerful percussive thump, circling keyboards and a husky, whispered vocal. It eventually ramps up a gear via some heartstopping chord shifts into a blood pumping hook. Outstanding.
The motorised rhythms of the title track, '
Heart Full Of Fire' (a Eurorock duet with Nightwish's Anette Olzon) would not seem out of place being pumped out at high volume in some gigantic Balearic Disco.
Closer, '
I Am Rock's swaggeringly confident chorus has given it the edge for the nomination as next single.
Elsewhere, the album is brimful of melodious workouts, athletic changes of pace, swirling
AOR crescendos and angelic rock hymns, all imbued with a positive energy that's impossible to resist.
Subtly sublimated influences abound, from Foreigner,
'Game They Call Love' to Autograph, on the beautifully crafted, eminently accessible '
Heard It On My Radio'.
As if that wasn't enough, the recording is elevated further by a slick production and carefully, cleverly dovetailed arrangements.
It may well be pushing credibility here, but '
Heart Full Of Fire' may just turn out to be as timeless and evocative as the influences that provided its inspiration.
Written by
Brian Thursday, May 22, 2008
Show all reviews by BrianRatingsBrian: 9/10Members: 8/10 - Average of 2 ratings.
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 | Tommy
Rating: 8/10
Not all songs come together, but a great, fun and ultra catchy disc.... · Read more · |
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