HARDLINE: Life (MELODIC HARD ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

The release of Hardline's first album in 1992 - a critically acclaimed "Double Eclipse" - was a huge hit in the small world of melodic hard rock. Two Journey members who team up to participate in the birth of a new combo, that's very attractive. But Neal Schon and Dean Castronovo left the ship since many years. Nevertheless, Hardline has, without its two stars, continued its little journey by releasing four opuses of varying quality between 2002 - the year the combo reappeared - and 2016. Three years after the popular "Human Nature", here is the band's new offering.

When we talk about Hardline's past, the two monsters we talked about above are more often mentioned than the real parents of the project, namely the Gioelli brothers, Joey the guitarist and Johnny the vocalist. Today only the second one has remained faithful to his offspring. And it's fortunate because the gentleman is talented. Accompanied once again by an Alessandro Del Vecchio who is no longer to be presented and bassist Anna Portalupi, he welcomes on this sixth album two new travel companions, including one Mario Percudani on the six-strings, about whom we will have the opportunity to talk again.

Melodic hard rock, of course, is at stake here. A US hard rock played only by Italians. This is new for Hardline, the combo having never put so much punch in its music. From the first notes of 'Place To Call Home' the new team has decided to make some big noise. The production, and this will be the case throughout the work, reinforces the impact of this title which clearly takes us back to Whitesnake. The rest is in tune with a lively "Take A Chance" that reminds us that Slaughter's work has left its mark, a very promising "Helio's Sun" or a "Chameleon" that flirts with Whitesnake and Extreme.

Melodic quality is often present, especially with the sensational "Out Of Time" which wins the title of the most FM track of the opus. It is also a constant in the quietest tracks of this "Life". There are four of them, which could be boring for a hard rock opus. But let it be said, this penchant for calm is not a lack of taste here. Indeed, whether it is 'Page Of Your Life', a power ballad with piano, 'This Love' which evokes Gotthard in a hallucinating way, and the acoustic 'My Friend' which is just as close, we are dealing here with great songs.

With the well placed choirs, the keyboard interventions (rare is the melodic hard rock where they do not devour space) and an amazing guitarist, the Gioelli gang probably succeeds here its best album. Hardline is undoubtedly coming to maturity with this sixth opus, as the band seems so sure of its strengths, to the point of having the confidence to dare to take over the sensational Queen's "Who Wants To Live Forever" and to get away with it royally.

Lovers of melodic US hard rock, let yourself be tempted by this successful album. You won't regret it. However, be careful to listen to this opus several times before giving an opinion on the object. Indeed, the compositions only reveal their secrets after several listening. So don't just fly over, take the time to land on this ocean and let yourself be mistreated and rocked by its capricious waves. - Official website

HARDLINE

LIFE

FRONTIERS RECORDS

MELODIC HARD ROCK