Shining Line - Shining Line
Armed with a determination to leave no melodic rock cliché left unturned, Pierpaolo and Amos Monti - the musicians behind this project - clearly headed into the studio brandishing a dog eared copy of the Bon Jovi songbook, obviously convinced they could come up with something original.
The only surprise then is that it turned out as good as it did.

The Montis masterstroke was to invite and involve a bunch of consummate rock musicians. . . the movers, shakers and wonderful album makers who are (arguably) directly responsible for today's melodic rock resurgence.
Like Harry (Harem Scarem) Hess, Erik (WET/Eclipse) Martensson, Mikael (Last Autumn's Dream) Erlandsson, Michael (Von Groove/Boston) Shotton, Michael (Casanova) Voss and numberless others.

Two European musicians on the rise - Alessandro (Edge Of Forever/Moonstone)  DelVecchio on keyboards, and Mario (Hungry Heart) Percudani on guitars  - played a key studio role in the construction of the album, with the Montis contributing drums and bass.
You can't help but be impressed with the duo's songs. Derivative perhaps, at times too closely modelled on the eighties' AOR template. But in the main the album comes across as reverential, full of verve, vigour and determined performances.
It's front loaded with the good stuff. 'Amy' (Harry Hess on vocals) and 'Strong Enough' (Robbie LeBlanc on vocals) being the highlights, but it loses a bit of  momentum after that.

Robin Beck emotes for all she is worth on 'Heat Of The Light' and Erlandsson sweats the detail on 'Can't Stop The Rock's clunky, clichéd lyrics and chorus. The album now threatens to tip over totally into formula.
Fortunately, 'Still In Your Heart', with Sue Willets and Bob Harris provides the push to take the album into its second half, where Percudani's David Gilmour impersonation on instrumental, 'Under Silent Walls, Part 1' raises this track above the average.
His own light touch and thoughtful style becomes apparent on 'Under Silent Walls, Part 3', a wonderfully apposite album closer.
 
The album is clearly a labour of love and if you are fan of any or all of the above artists, you'll find something to like here. But, shouldn't that be Shining Light?

Written by Brian
Sunday, August 8, 2010
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Review by Brian

Released by
Avenue Of Allies - 2010

Tracklisting
01 - Highway Of Love.
02 - Amy.
03 - Strong Enough.
04 - Heaven's Paths.
05 - Heat Of The Light.
06 - Can't Stop The Rock.
07 - The Meaning Of My Lonely Words.
08 - The Infinity In Us.
09 - Still In Your Heart.
10 - Homeless' Lullaby.
11 - Follow The Stars.
12 - Unbreakable Wire.
13 - Under Silent Walls Part I - Blossom: From Night To Dawn.
14 - Under Silent Walls Part II - Alone.
15 - Under Silent Walls Part III - Epilogue: Death Of Cupid.


Style
AOR / Melodic Rock

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9 - Genius
10 - Masterpiece
666 - Unrated

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