After almost ten years
Giant is back with a new studio album.
Original members Mike Brignardello (bass) and David L. Huff (drums) have teamed up with vocalist
Terry Brock (Strangeways) and guitarist John Roth (Winger). Dann Huff is still partly involved, adding guitar solos on two tracks and participating with the songwriting.
It comes as no surprise that it's Frontiers that has picked up the band and pushed them into making another disc, Promise Land fits well into the broad flowing stream of great Melodic Rock releases coming from that particular label.
That
Terry Brock was the right choice for this comeback album becomes clear right from away.
Believer (Redux) has that all-embracing chorus that just goes on forever. The track is written by Erik Martensson, Robert Sall and Miqael Persson of
W.E.T. which make a lot of sense since it's one hell of a monster with thunderous guitars all over the place.
The mellow
Our Love also displays Terry's impressive skills but in a completely different setting. Here sweet sentiments create a tender mood as Terry's gentle but also slightly rasp voice lures you in.
Never Surrender and
Prisoner Of Love are two other compositions from the
W.E.T. camp. The first one has an uncompromising rhythm that just pounds away, a really energetic and great song.
Some impressing guitar leads push
Prisoner Of Love forward but a rather uninspired refrain pulls it back again, so an OK track.
Two Worlds sounds as something off Joe Lynn Turner's
Sunstorm releases, a delightful rockish beat coming from a hammering bass and with some ultra melodic vocals on top.
Promise Land has luckily been given a thorough treatment in the mixing room, the album has a thick, deep and vital sound. I guess
I'll Wait For You is a pretty good example of how powerful it all comes together, those back-up vocals really shine. Lyrically things are looking swell too, a quite personal and emotionally approach.
The album has some truly defining moments,
Believer (Redux) was one of them and that goes for
Dying To See You as well. Here we find a full-bodied ballad with a most authentic feel of desperate heartbreak, just listen to the way the gentle keyboards and Terry's fragile voice melts together...truly magical.
Songs as
Plenty Of Love and
Through My Eyes upholds a high standard as well but the album looses some of its momentum towards the end.
Double Trouble is quite groovy but the chorus soon becomes tiresome and it simply just hasn't enough meat on it. The technical guitar work in
Complicated Man is worth mentioning but the tempo sounds a tad forced.
Save Me is a bit too funky for my taste and the chorus isn't actually appealing either.
But that doesn't really spoil the fun; Promise Land is a strong album.
The rhythm section is crisp and John Roth lays down some fantastic guitar passages while
Terry Brock delivers an outstanding vocal performance.
Bottom line: A few minor bumbs along the way but when these guys hit it you wanna be there for the ride.
Written by
Tommy Friday, February 5, 2010
Show all reviews by TommyRatingsTommy: 7.5/10Members: 7.5/10 - Average of 2 ratings.
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