REVOLUTION SAINTS - Revolution Saints (2015)

Genre - Melodic Rock 

Label - Frontiers Records

 

Track listing:

01. Back On My Trail
02. Turn Back Time
03. You're Not Alone (feat. Arnel Pineda)
04. Locked Out Of Paradise
05. Way To The Sun (feat. Neal Schon)
06. Dream On
07. Don't Walk Away
08. Here Forever
09. Strangers To This Life
10. Better World
11. How To Mend A Broken Heart
12. In The Name Of The Father (Fernando's Song)
BONUS TRACKS:
13. Don't Walk Away (Acoustic Version) [exclusive Japan bonus]
14. You're Not Alone (Arnel Pineda version)
15. Way To The Sun (Doug Aldrich Version)
16. You're Not Alone (Deen Castronovo Version)

Supergroup? There's no other word that fit best REVOLUTION SAINTS, the new project put together by Frontiers Records featuring former Bad English and current Journey drummer Deen Castronovo, AOR legend Jack Blades of Night Ranger / Damn Yankees fame, and former Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich.
Add to this superstar trio, Frontiers ‘go to’ man for Melodic Rock projects Alessandro Del Vecchio, who provides the keys, songwriting and production, and you have the awesome self-titled debut to be released next February 23, 2015.
We’ve always known that Deen Castronovo is a freak drummer and an amazing vocalist, but this album propels him into the spotlight and he excels in both roles.
‘It is a musician's record,' states Castronovo of the project. Indeed it is. There are a plethora of examples of exquisite musicianship from all throughout the record, none more so than Castronovo himself, who delivers a masters clinic on how exactly to play on a Meloric Rock album with power, soul and finesse.
On "Revolution Saints" Castronovo handles most of the lead vocals, lending it a real Journey feel to the music at times, particularly on the ballads like "Don’t Walk Away". You can see why he does a lot of the live harmonies for Journey as he has a rich, melodic vocal.
Speaking of Journey, vocalist Arnel Pineda duets on the massive slab of melodic rock that is "You’re Not Alone"; both vocalists complement each other very well. It could easily have been lifted of the last couple of Journey albums.
Not to be outdone fellow Journey band mate Neal Schon guests on "Way To The Sun", maybe the nearest we have Schon playing on a Journey-like '80s sounding song for some time.
"Turn Back Time" is the lead song of the album and rightly so as it roars out of the blocks, with Doug Aldrich letting fly with some tasty riffs. If that wasn’t enough, there is a cracking vocal trade off between Castronovo and Jack Blades, the nearest to a Night Ranger song on here.
Another classy melodic hard rocker is "Back On My Tail", featuring some monster Aldrich riffs (he never goes too flash on the solos yet gives the songs that extra touch of class) and another chorus that won’t leave your head.
The Journey influence rears it’s head again on "Stranger To This Life", and continues on the brilliant "Better World". Alessandro Del Vecchio's swanky production and tasty ivory tickling on this tune are a particular highlight. But the stop start build up to the genius chorus will have you hooked immediately. Without doubt one of the strongest track on the album.

Judging by the quality of the songwriting on this album, I'm surprised the band included a cover: "How To Mend A Broken Heart". This track was originally recorded by Swedish monsters Eclipse. The pummeling energy of this version more than matches the original.
If you don't had enough, this "Revolution Saints Japan SHM-CD" features the 3 great bonus tracks to be featured on the Deluxe Euro edition, plus the exclusive acoustic version of "Don't Walk Away".
Revolution Saints have set the bar very high, and if you like Journey, Night Ranger et al, this is a Must Have.

Rating - 9/10

The players:

Deen Castronovo – Lead Vocals, Drums
Jack Blades – Bass, Vocals on 2, 5
Doug Aldrich – Guitars
featuring:
Arnel Pineda – co-lead vocals on 3
Neal Schon – guitar solo on 5
Alessandro Del Vecchio – keyboards, backing vocals, vocals on 5
Produced by Alessandro Del Vecchio

Neal Schon - So U (2014)

Genre - Hard Rock / Melodic Rock / Rock N Roll 

Label - Frontiers Records

Track listing:

01. Take A Ride

02. So U

03. Exotica

04. What You Want

05. Love Finds A Way

06. On My Way

07. Serenity

08. Shelter

09. Big Ocean

NEAL SCHON pulls in fellow Journey man Deen Castronovo on drums and current Black Star Riders bassist Marco Mendoza for his latest solo outing “So U”.
Unlike his previous Frontiers Records album The Calling back in 2012, this new 2014 effort has vocals which are shared between the three players (all are accomplished singers).
With the help of monster songwriter Jack Blades from Night Ranger, Schon has crafted an album that combines Melodic Hard Rock melodies with his passion for the six-strings.
The disc opens with the bluesy rocker "Take A Ride" which swaggers out of the gates with a groove that provokes the body to move.
Next, the title track is an example of true wonder reaching out in length to an impressive nine minutes and fifty seconds. Beginning like a soulful crooning, ballad song, it shifts gears and blossoms in to a real journey of progression with a coloured palette.
Then the instrumental "Exotica" brings the jam and a tour de force between these talented cats, a song with a Santana feel and great the guitar playing.
Stevie Salas Concorde springs to mind when I crank up "On My Way"; upbeat with an urgent delivery of funk complete with hooks and some tasty harmony vocals. "What You Want" works well for similar reasons although in a much more rocking way akin Chickenfoot / Sammy Hagar.
On the opposite side of the coin from their up tempo material you also get a sweeping ballad in the shape of "Love Finds A Way' which finds a subtle backdoor to the memory and grips tight. This is pure Journey and I love it.
Talking about Schon's main band, "Serenity" is the typical Journey rockin' number (one of the Jack Blades co-writes) and best song on here, and much better than any on the last Jorney album. All three musicians share vocals here, and at places seems Steve Perry returned!
For the most part, "So U" is straight-ahead rock and roll, with few surprises to catch a casual listener off guard. One of the most enjoyable facets within the album’s nine songs is, as expected, the guitar work from bandleader Neal Schon.
This is a record with no production weaknesses, nicely designed and fine-tuned for a classic rock / melodic rock loving audience. Moods ranging from mid-tempo to highly energetic and enthused flow smoothly from the speakers.
Another very good effort from Neal Schon, which to be honest, sounds like a real band with the tight assemble achieved alongside the two seasoned monsters Mendoza / Castronovo.
A Solid Album from a living legend!

Rating - 9/10