Gregory Lynn Hall is a new
acquaintance to me; even though he has
a long "career" in the melodic hard rock
genre. Gregory is from California and
has been the singer of 101 South and
has a long history in the music
industry, in all areas from studio work
to live shows. Anyhow... This is his debut
album as a solo artist and this is a
100% solo work. He handles everything
from keys, drums, vocals to guitar and
bass. Spiced it up with a line of guest
guitarists. This album is more of a
stiffer hard rock album in comparison to
101 South's sound. (I compare their
latest album 'No U' Turn' and 'Heaven to
Earth' and this album is more in my
taste.) Sharper guitars, heavier
drumming and much more power in the
vocals. Still I want to call it Melodic
hard rock instead of AOR.
The opening track 'Rockin' the
Road' is one of the strongest songs and
is a classic American rock tune with
elegant guitar works and a song you want
to have in the car on a sunny day when you are driving to the beach. The guitars in
the beginning of 'Stars in the Night' are
fantastic and the song turns into a
groovy rock song with South state
emotions. 'Love Can' is a slower song
where Gregory has problem in the
beginning staying stabile in the vocals,
but rescues it when the song speeds up
in tempo.
He really surprise me with the
metal track 'Fly On' in high galloping
pace and with a voice similar to Patrik
Johansson in Astral Doors / Civil War! A
super song with very big potential to
attract the fans of power metal. 'Fly
On' is by far the best song on the
album! Amazing guitar work in the middle
of the song breaks off the up-tempo flow
and I can't resist to bounce my
legs! The title track and 'Cry No More'
are two fine power ballads with strong
vocals. 'Ordinary Man' and 'Mama Said'
is more of AOR tracks and 'I Thought I
Saw Heaven' and 'Cryin'' are two bluesy
rock songs with many groovy rhythms.
This is something for fans of
classic guitar-based hard rock with
powerful vocals. A harder and stronger
first half with a peak in nr 4 and a
slower, more mature second half results in
an charming 53 minutes of pure rock n
roll. I even think my mother will like
some of the tracks.
This swings!! Great work
Gregory!
Line-up:
Gregory Lynn Hall, all Vocals, Guitars,
Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Harmonica.
Guest Drummer:
Bandit Bellamia.
Guest Guitars :
Craig Goldy (Heaven to Earth)
Billy Liesegang (Cry no More)
Jeff Duncan (Rockin' the Road, Stars in
the Night, Cryin')
Mike Turner (You got me Runnin')
Johnny Navarro (Mama Said)
