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""Queen Of Broken Hearts" is to be recommended to those who will not be put off by a collection of tracks formatted for the FM airwaves nor by the overly demonstrative vocals of Issa who nevertheless has all the elements in hand to offer much better."
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3/5
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For eight years and five albums, Issa's story seems to be an eternal restart. Compositions formatted for the FM waves, a line-up composed of AOR/hard melodic stars and a female singer with a powerful voice a little too demonstrative. It's quite simple, apart from "Can't Stop" (2012) which was a bit more interesting although it was a cover album, we had the impression to copy and paste our previous reviews with each new delivery. Three years after a "Run With The Pack" (2018) that did not deviate from the rule, the Norwegian is back with the same team and a formula that does not seem to change.
As usual, the production is perfect, combining power and clarity. Although clearly there to support the diva, each instrument benefits from a place highlighting it enough, starting with the keyboards of Alessandro Del Vecchio. If these last ones often tend to sound very 80's, they can also show modernity, as on the mid-tempo 'The Night It Rained Forever', darker and effective with its effluences of Within Temptation or Evanescence, or on the AOR and catchy 'I'm Here To Stay'. Another instrumentalist highlighted, Simone Mularoni is able to play luminous and fast solos with peaks reached on 'Blue', 'Wait For Love' or 'Die For A Life With You'. Finally, the rhythm section is once again flawless and offers solid and dynamic foundations.
With such a concentration of strong points, "Queen Of Broken Hearts" seems to be armed to impose itself as a must-have release of the AOR / hard melodic scene. However, there are two points that might prevent it from reaching this sphere reserved for the greatest. The first one comes from the very formatted side of many compositions and the second handicap is the vocals of the mistress of the place. If Issa possesses without any contest a voice at the same time clear and powerful, she persists in wanting to be demonstrative at the expense of nuances which would put so much more its qualities in value. The rare times when she lends herself to this exercise ('The Night It Rained Forever', 'Blue'), the result is particularly effective. Unfortunately, always wanting to insist on the power, she ends up turning into a diva and exhausting the listener who releases his attention before the end.
Despite everything, we recognize the quality of the whole and will advise it to those who will be put off neither by a too demonstrative vocals nor by tracks with obvious formatting. For our part, we will not be able to take the step that would allow us to show enthusiasm. All this is all the more frustrating as the qualities and the talent are obviously present and that a little artistic risk-taking would allow to obtain a really superior result. Maybe for the seventh album - if we have the courage to be interested again? - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Angels Calling - 3:30
02. The Way Out - 3:48
 03. The Night It Rained Forever - 3:39
04. I'm Here To Stay - 3:48
05. Blue - 3:56
06. Queen Of Broken Hearts - 4:00
07. Derive - 4:16
08. Without Love - 3:09
09. Wait For Love - 3:11
10. After The Rain - 3:40
11. Die For A Life With You - 4:02
LINEUP:
Alessandro Del Vecchio: Claviers
Andrea Torricini: Basse
Isabell "Issa" Oversveen: Chant
Marco Di Salvia: Batterie
Simone Mularoni: Guitares
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(1) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4/5 (1 view(s))
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STAFF:
3/5 (3 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH ISSA
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT ISSA
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