Frontiers Records introduces a brand new
melodic hard rock project and by the name of L.R.S; featuring Tommy La
Verdi (21 Guns), Josh Ramos (The Storm, Hardline) and Michael Shotton (Von
Groove, Airtime). Serafino Perugino,
Frontiers Records President has an
amazing feeling for former stars
from the time before the horrible Grunge
rock era. The charming vocal talent
Tommy La Verdi is a singer from the
fabulous 21 Guns debut album "Salute"
from 1992. "Down to the Core" was produced by
Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline,
Lionville) has handpicked two other
musicians: the guitar player Josh Ramos
and the drummer Michael Shotton into
this shining AOR trio.
The songs are punchy with big hooks and
elegant melodies. If you imagine a blend
of AOR like Toto, Journey's sound and
some musical hints of Canadian Triumph.
Extremely melodic songs, as often when
the Italian producer and great musician
Alessandro Del Vecchio is involved in
something from Frontiers Records. He has
a finger in every track and put all
contributions from the three band
members (who lives in different places)
together and offered a number of his own
writings to the band. Very melodic,
rhythmic hard rock with high pitch vocals
and balanced guitar riffs, solid
drumming and superb keyboards. I like
the down tempo tracks ,which grabbed my
old scarred heart like 'I Can Take You
There', 'Almost Over You', 'Universal
Cry', 'To Be Your Man', 'I Will Find My
Way' and the killer track 'Not One Way
To Give'.
Half of the tracks on "Down to the Core'
is as you understand ballads or
half-ballads, and in those songs
Tommy's raspy voice fit like a hand in a
glove. The sensitive guitars, smooth rhythms and mature lyrics make this
album a great fit for lovers on a single hand
date. This isn't a party album with a
lot of air guitar playing tracks or
table dancing songs. High quality
standards through the tracklist without
any filler song, but there might be too
many down tempo songs to make me mega
satisfied. Best of the 'quicker' tracks is
the opening song 'Our Love To Stay', with big influences from
Journey! The title song 'Down to the
Core' is a catchy and melodic hard rock
song with stunning guitars from Josh
Ramos.
With several spins together
my overall score ends up in the upper OK level.
Not a earth shattering masterpiece or so,
just a darn good melodic hard rock album.
For the fans of Melodic Hard Rock,
this is worth to check.
L.R.S:
Tommy La Verdi - lead vocals
Josh Ramos - guitars
Michael Shotton – drums, backing vocals
With:
Alessandro Del Vecchio - keyboards,
hammond organ, backing vocals
Nicola Mazzucconi - bass, fretless bass
Anna Portalupi - bass, fretless bass
Jamie Browne - bass
