This is the seventh release through the specialist AOR/melodic rock re-issue label AOR-FM Records and again its another good one, unlike some re-release labels who seem to be releasing the pub rock band equivalent of melodic rock bands. This album was recorded back in 1993 to be released as a cassette only promo in a limited quantity of 100 copies (but never got a release), so unless you were the most avid collector chances are you won’t have heard of this band before. Mario Massi (guitars/vocals/keys) is the driving force behind this release and sadly such is the bad time he must have had when recording these songs there are no interview sleeve notes which always add greatly to any release like this one.

Although recorded in 1993 the band sound more like 80's rockers Giuffria especially on 'Heart Of Stone' and 'Dirty Little Secret' where the vocals have that rough sounding vocal of David Glenn Eisley about them. The songs throughout the album are on the whole very strong although the slower 'Missing You' lacks any real passion in the delivery. If this album had been released at the tail end of the 80's the band would have been much more widely known rather than being buried in a sea of grunge in the 90's. Definitely worth getting if you like 80's AOR/melodic rock and bands like Guiffria, House of Lords, Brighton Rock et al

***½

Review by Jason Ritchie