Another Smash Hit!!!
D. Griffith | Missouri, USA | 05/20/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hardline broke onto the scene with their amazing debut album "Double Eclipse" in 1992 and made me a fan instantly. The first time I heard them was during the Brandon Lee movie "Rapid Fire" and I was immediately interested in hearing more. Ever since then I, like the rest of the Hardline fans, have had to be content with a very limited number of songs by the band. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have 13 great songs than 100 mediocre songs any day, and apparently so would this awesome group. (By the way, I believe Double Eclipse to be one of the best albums EVER released).
Hardline II, their follow up release in 2002, was hard to find in the States but it was worth hunting down. With the unavoidable comparison to Double Eclipse it was somewhat overshadowed despite being a great album. The group reformed with some new members in the lineup and had a different sound, though still the Hardline that we had come to love, it was different. The album features strong, driving, rock hits, and catchy ballads. The next year we had "Live at the Gods Festival" which gave us some different takes on the studio tracks we loved. Then there was another long silence.
Now, in 2009 we finally have another album from Hardline; Leaving the End Open. I was very eager to get my hands on this album and start listening so once I got it I just let 'er spin and I've been playing it pretty much nonstop for several days now. Being a long-time Hardline fan here is what I think.
Leaving the End Open is an amazing album! It is a fitting installment to the Hardline catalogue and well worth the wait. What we have here is another 11 great songs that plays more like a greatest hits than an album release. I love their song structure of the dissonant verse opening to the solid melodic chorus. Johnny is still as strong as ever as the front man. Josh Ramos continues to impress with his guitar skills. The addition of Michael T. Ross on keyboards continues to be a fine compliment to this amazing team of musicians (Ross also designed the CD cover art!). Atma Anur had some mighty big shoes to fill following up the phenomenal Deen Castronovo and the impressive Bobby Rock on drums but he is up to the task laying a solid bed of rhythm! New member Jamie Browne fills in the lower end with great work on the bass to complete the group.
Opening the album is "Voices", which features the dissonant to melodic structure I previously mentioned. I think it makes the chorus even catchier than it might have been with a normal verse. The keys add a nice layer under the vocals and it really works well. "Falling Free" seems to have on of the catchiest choruses that I've heard in a long time featuring Johnny and some great harmonized vocals driving this one.
"Bittersweet" is a slower rock-ballad that just feels right. "She Sleeps In Madness" has an uneasy feeling keyboard intro, then comes the guitar, and finally we open into a strong guitar driven verse. Then we are treated to a full on ballad with "In This Moment" where we finally get to hear Johnny with some luscious piano; nice, really nice. I love it when a group that can rock like these guys aren't afraid to put a slow piano ballad in with the rest. It's like a slice of Key Lime pie after a nice steak dinner. Mmmm...
Then we really get into some meat with "Give Into This Love" getting us pretty close to the feel from Double Eclipse. A driving rock song with amazing vocals (of course). Ramos is in particularly great form on this song using some very interesting harmonics during the first verse that really adds to the song (and also returns near the end for a neat wrap-up feeling).
Another great track is "Hole In My Head" which also has a very catchy chorus and some great work on the keys by Ross. Of particular interest in this song is the open, airy feeling bridge that Ramos builds up into his fine solo with. Rounding out the album is the title track "Leaving the End Open" which, on a normal album, could be considered the stand-out track. This is another track that is lead by the keyboards and guitar playing off each other with Ramos having some "homage to Journey" sounding chords going on. Anur has some great drumming on this track as he throws in some unexpected snare beats to break things up during the chorus.
All in all, do whatever you have to do to get this album. Whether you are a die-hard Hardline fan like me or just somebody looking for some great new music. Maybe you are growing tired of much of the radio play going on today? Or maybe you have a great love for melodic rock that flourished during the 80's. Whatever your case, do yourself a favor and give Hardline a try."
Highly Recommended!
Peter Landowski | United States | 09/06/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While not as fast-paced as Double Eclipse or Hardline II, this new CD will make any Hardline fan smile. The album features more of a mellow side to Hardline, as it has many ballads on it. There are a couple of hard-rocking songs, but overall it is more of a mellow CD. The songs are well written and I just can't stop listening to the CD, it is that good.
Too bad Hardline can't get the publicity it really deserves. The songs on this album would make great radio airplay, but the radio/music industry suffers from bias and it plays bands/songs that usually have no talent. MTV is a machine that spits out what it wants, talent not needed.
Get this CD, it is well worth it. The music really moves your heart and soul. Thanks Hardline for an awesome CD!"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1