Power of Metal.dk Review

Perfect View
Red Moon Rising
Rating
Style: Hard Rock / AOR
Release date: 23 May, 2014
Playing time: 52:27
 


Perfect View from Italy was founded back in 2008 and they released their debut album 'Hold Your Dreams' in 2010. Their idea for the musical direction is to combine elements of first class AOR and Melodic Rock in the vein of Toto, Winger and Journey with some harder moments like Van Halen and Lynch Mob and to add a progressive touch to the sound.

This band is a new acquaintance to me and the five piece band aims high and they hit their goal quite well. Strong vocals and lovely melodies combined with technical debauchery, which makes this album steam with musical gems. Max Ordine on vocals has a light and high pitch voice and he is perfect for this kind of rock.

In the opening song 'Where the Wind Blows' it's sounds a lot of AOR and fans of Scandinavian melodic hard rock (Work of Art, Eclipce, W.E.T) will enjoy this track. The gentle and harmless sound continues in 'By My Side' with some nice guitar hooks. I like the heavier song 'Room 14' with harder riffs and more power, a darn good hard rock song actually. 'Slave to the Empire' is a clean melodic rock tune with delicious vocals and great guitars. The slow song 'I Will Remember' is a power ballad with stunning vocals from Max.

I'm waiting for the progressive touches in the songs and in 'In the Name of the Father' it does twist a little more than before and this is one of the best songs on the album. A nice blend of the smoother melodic rock and the harder progressive drums and the sharper guitar sound. Nice keyboards opens 'Living in Disguise', which also is a 'half' progressive rock tune with many more ingredients in the dish and it smells more of Journey. 'Dead End Street' is a 80s hard rock song with classy guitars, which are powdered with prog rock. The half progressive rock track 'Holdin' On' was overwhelming me, because I didn't expect them to widen to this hefty sound.

I really like their style and in the following song 'In a Blink of an Eye' they increase the heat and I have to give Francensco Cataldo some extra credit to his great guitar work. The brave cover of Toto's super hit 'Home of the Brave' is a fantastic ending song of a super strong debut album from these Italians. Worth checking out if you like high class AOR with a touch of prog...

Line up:
Max Ordine: Lead & background vocals
Francesco Cataldo: All guitars & background vocals
Pier Mazzini: Keyboards & background vocals
Frank Paulis: Bass & background vocals
Luca Ferraresi: Drums & background vocals


Tracklist
01. Where the Wind Blows
02.
By My Side
03.
Room 14
04.
Slave to the Empire
05.
I Will Remember
06.
In the Name of the Father
07.
Living in Disguise
08.
Dead End Street
09.
Holdin' On
10.
In a Blink of an Eye
11.
Home of the Brave
Label: Avenue of Allies
Distribution: Sound Pollution
Artwork rating: 83/100
Reviewed by: Patrik J Skoglund
Date: 16 May, 2014
Website: www.perfectviewtheband.com