Reviews: Long Shadows Dawn, Blood Red Saints, Cruzh, Mayank (Reviews By Matt Bladen)

Long Shadows Dawn - Isle Of Wrath (Frontiers Music Srl)

Persuader guitarist Emil Norberg is obviously a massive fan of Rainbow. A style in contrast to his day job with thrashy power metal act Persuader, Long Shadows Dawn is an homage to Rainbow. Albeit the  Bonnet/Lynn Turner era with a sprinkling of Dio as well. Now obviously to capture that style properly you need a versatile vocalist, preferably one who has also performed with Rainbow (in 1994). The voice on Isle Of Wrath is the excellent Doogie White, a man with a stunning range, delivery and the ability to mold his voice to any style. It's no wonder he has sung for Yngwie Malmesteen’s Rising Force, Tank, Michael Schenker Fest and Alcatrazz as he pretty much has the blueprint hard rock vocals. 

I'll be honest it's White that makes this album, Norberg's playing is him indulging in as much Blackmore worship as possible, On Wings Of Angels coming on like MK III Purple, as Deal With The Preacher is out and out Dio. There's lots of explosive, fluid Strat playing (at least I hope it's a Strat), the galloping, rocky riffs shifting into expansive solos. I mean, they could have gone down the route of getting Ronnie Romero, a man who is often held in high regard for this style of music and even fronts Rainbow, however I much prefer Doogie White's voice, he's got a grit that comes from years of experience. Yet again another project curated by the Frontiers President but one that brings together a perfect vocalist with a Rainbow superfan for songs that sound-like Rainbow. It's a project that pays off well, worth a listen for Rainbow fans. 7/10 

Blood Red Saints - Undisputed (Frontiers Music Srl)

The fourth album from UK melodic rockers Blood Red Saints sees them return to the warm embrace of Frontiers, it's allowed them to move back towards the synth heavy, FM radio rock of that debut. It's the kind of music that never left your tape deck back in the 80's on the way to watch Tron. Well I say never left it would probably be swapped with Frontiers the album by Journey, funny then that it's the return to Frontiers (the label) that has brought back these massive Journey influences. Love Like War especially has that strut of the San Francisco AOR legends. The record was written throughout the Pandemic recorded at guitarist Lee Revills' studio. 

There was no set sound in mind for this album when it was being recorded but it was a natural fit to return to their debut as even though the band were formed in 2014 they are very much in that 80's sound of American acts such as Journey and REO Speedwagon but also Brits like FM and Dare. Pete Godfrey's voice is silky smooth, with a touch of the Steve Perry as Revill's guitars peel off tasty licks against the solid rhythm section of Rob Naylor (bass) and Andy Chemney (drums), a song such as Caught In The Wreckage highlights this well as does the rocky Karma which moves into some Def Leppard rocking. Clearly a positive move returning to Blood Red Saints they have re-established their melodic rock credentials with Undisputed. 7/10

Cruzh - Tropical Thunder (Frontiers Music Srl)

Not a concept album surrounding the 'comedy' movie featuring Robert Downey Jr in blackface, Tropical Thunder is the second album from this international (though Sweden based) melodic rock band Cruzh. This record sees a line up change adding Alex Waghorn's air raid siren vocal to the band adding more glam and modern AOR elements that reminds me of Reckless Love, Brother Firetribe or even Van Hagar with the virtuoso guitar playing from Anton Joensson a highlight. He has Dennis Butabi Borg (bass) and Matt Silver (drums) as his anchor meaning that there's always a thump on tracks such as Turn Back Time which also has tons of keys and synths from Erik Wiss, who is key to the sound. As with Blood Red Saints there's also some Def Leppard style on Are You Ready the band clearly writing this for stadia, mega-ballad Cady also created for a Billboard charting, in 1984, but still. Thankfully it's followed by the dramatic New York Nights taking away the sugar with some sin. There's been quite a long wait for a follow up Cruzh record and for fans it's been worth the wait, however Cruzh is a bit like the fruit flavoured ciders you see everywhere; far too sweet and not as satisfying as it could be. 6/10

Mayank - Mayank (Frontiers Music Srl)

Another project put together by the Frontiers President and it's a the age old tale of talented vocalist supported by a Frontiers go to studio musicians. Alessandro Del Vecchio is of course involved on bass/keys and production and it's Frontiers in house musicianship at it's best. Slick and melodic Gui Oliver's voice similar to Steve Perry as anyone who has listened to Auras or Landfall, both bands who have signed to Frontiers. Impressed by his voice with Landfall, Alessandro began to write the record with Gui and other writers, due to the pandemic, finally settling on the record they wanted to create this record together. They brought in Rolf Nordström of Perfect Plan on guitar and Nicholas Papapicco on drums to round out the band but as I said this is pretty middle of the road, modern melodic rock. 5/10