Independent review

If you still go into ecstasy from the new creations of Axel Rudi Pell, then here is an aperitif for you while waiting for the next disc of the German maestro. Pell's vocalist Johnny Gioeli is releasing another record from his group Hardline. Stylistically, the collective has now completely equaled Axel, the only difference being the absence of brain-shattering guitar solos. Johnny's brother hasn't been in the group for a long time. The main driving force of Hardline, along with the vocalist, has become the hyperactive Frontiers Records keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio. As expected, we get a standardized melodic product where the only question is the quality of the compositions. Were they able to put in at least a particle of soul, or did they play just to fill the quota. Hardline is at a higher level than many collectives from Frontiers, but nowadays even the best often slide into the swamp of banality. Well, don't expect revelations, the album will be forgotten quickly, but a few songs might well remain in your music library for some period, for example, until Pell's new disc, which, by the way, it's not a fact will surpass Gioeli's creation. Although, of course, this is far from a great battle - a craftsman against an aging master. What stands out from the general outline? The best drivy opener on the album "Place to Call Home," the ballad "Page of Your Life," the rocker "Out of Time," the mid-tempo "Hold on to Right," another rocker "Story of My Life," and, well, the Queen cover "Who Wants to Live Forever" (Johnny, by the way, is back in great shape). I will note the very appropriate placement of songs, which also happens far from always even on such a commercial label as Frontiers. Rocker-mid-tempo-ballad and roughly so in a circle, you won't be able to get bored. Result: Life is definitely above average, but precisely enough to listen to a few tracks a certain number of times and maybe leave the opening track in the playlist for a long time. A normal album, in general, in a style that is not the most original.

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