The debut release by Takara with Neal Grusky on guitars, Jeff Scott Soto on vocals/keys, Robert Duda on drums and bass player Gary Scutt. I must admit I originally bought this when it first came out via Now & Then and I wasn’t a fan! But with time and hindsight I have really grown to like this album.

The band’s heaviest release to date with guitars high in the mix, none more so than ‘Spotlight’ and ‘Two Hearts Together’. Aside from Neil Grusky’s impeccable guitar playing Jeff Scott Soto’s vocals really stand out - he is a powerhouse vocalist. ‘Just Like Yesterday’ has crisp guitar riffs and a hook filled chorus - all that good melodic hard rock should be!

Mellower moments take the form of the ballad ‘Restless Heart’, which builds slowly to a harmony vocal chorus and a Yngwie Malmsteen style guitar solo. Power ballad ‘Colors Fade Away’ has some delicate piano and another harmony filled chorus with Soto on fine vocal form. A couple of tracks drag like ‘Don’t Walk Away’ and ‘First Attraction’, whose start sounds like your CD has got stuck!

A welcome re-release and an album that deserves a place in any melodic rock fan’s collection.

Related>> Blind In Paradise
Taste Of Heaven
Eternity The Best 93-8

Website

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Review by Jason Ritchie

***** Out of this world | **** Pretty damn fine |
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan |
** Instant bargain bin fodder | * Ugly. Just ugly