Hardline were originally put together by the Gioeli brothers and Neal Schon, and the original album came out in ’92. This is another of the Frontiers’ think of a band from the past releases, where they get a minimal amount of original members to record a follow-up. To be fair, this is a really good aor/melodic rock album, and Neal Schon does play on and co-wrote final track: This Gift.
Hold Me Down opens up the album in fine style with a nice uptempo groover and a nice hook and chorus. Y is more of a laid back yacht rock tune. Paralyzed however, is really great tune. Superb hook and melody, it is one of the heavier sounding tunes. Face The Night is a top grade power ballad with a really nice solo from Josh Ramos. Side 1 closes out with Do Or Die, a mid tempo groover with a Whitesnake Ready And Willing riff.
Hey Girl opens up Side 2 with a slow ballad-esque opening before the heavy crunch of the hook dives in, and big bonus points for the killer solo and ending which makes it my favourite tune. Only A Night has a name-the-Journey-track opening and it’s AOR 101! Your Eyes has a killer riff and groove, it bounces along until the earworm hook and chorus. Another killer solo! Weight follows, it is the track that sounds like nothing else on the album. A weird time signature and choppy groove make this a really interesting tune and a break from the softer vibes. Way It Is, Way It Goes is up next and that slightly different vibe continues with a heavy chugga riff and groove. Really nice track!Then it’s on to last track This Gift and Mr Schon’s involvement. If syrupy ballads are your thing then you may be drooling, however for me the solo is cool but I like to go out with bang.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
