Yet another album featuring the hardest working man in show biz… Mr. Jeff Scott Soto.
I think this album existed but not in this form before escape picked it up and hyphenated the name and all the major players were added. Escape Music are beefing up the hard rocking element to the label as of late, and this is another quality addition to the label.
D’Luna are the baby of guitarist Dave Deluna who comes from the groove metal capital of Texas. Whoever’s idea it was to get Jeff on board deserves a medal, because this type of groovin’ hard rock/metal is Jeff’s forte. I love the heavy drop tune guitar riffage and Mr. Deluna is one hell of a player.
The band have a unique sound and the guest vocal of Doug Pinnick joining Jeff on the ripping title and opening track, Monster, is inspired. The whole album is a heavier version of KingsX. The first five Kings X albums are must haves in anyone’s collection, so it’s great to hear a band coming out with some fresh heavy sounds along those lines.
If you read a lot of my reviews then you will know that I’m a sucker for huge heavy guitars, and this has them all over, but not at the expense of destroying the melody and groove. Every song is a just so good. Monster is a killer way to open the album as that heavy riff just grabs you by the throat and Jeff and Doug’s vocals are superb. Zombie is very similar, that heavy guitar is just wonderful and I adore the harmonies.
My favourite track is Believe In Me. A much slower, eerie, moody piece that has the goosebumps standing to attention. It’s got a killer vibe and is different to anything else on the album. You even get a hint of funk with the very groovy 123. I love it when a band mixes up the groove and vibe, making this sound so fresh. A close second for favourite tune is Blink Of An Eye, it’s got a huge, deep, heavy riff and that groove just swings beautifully.
We are only just into March and we have a contender for album of the year.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
