Band : From The Inside
Album title : Visions
Label : Frontiers
Distributor : Rough Trade
Release date : 01/08/2008
Release : CD

Main protagonist in this act is singer Danny Vaughn who, having made his singing debut in British Hard Rock act Circus Circus, shot to fame when he was contracted to join Waysted in 1986. The Save Your Prayers album came as quite a surprise to the band's fans, as it was a far more melodic product of high quality than previous releases. After European dates with Status Quo, Waysted supported Iron Maiden on their 1987 tour, (during which the band threw in an extra appearance in Tel Aviv (Israel) alongside Marillion and Alvin Lee), but after the tour the band fell apart (once again).

In 1990 Vaughn founded Tyketto with guitarist Brooke St. James, bassist Jimi Kennedy, and drummer Michael Clayton. Tyketto was soon picked up by Geffen, who released the band's highly successful 1991 debut album Don't Come Easy (from which single Forever Young was released in 3 formats: a two track 7-inch, and a 3-track affair including a non-album bonus released both on 12-inch and CD). Although 1993's sophomore album Strength In Numbers (this time issued through Music For Nations, because rejected by Geffen)was a powerful follow-up, sold over 150,000 copies and had 3 different videos aired on MTV, even this British band was suffering from the ongoing worldwide influence of the American Grunge scene on the music business globalwide, and Tyketto had seen its audiences shrinking gradually even before the 1994 tour they did in support of the album (in fact, in between albums Kennedy had already left and been replaced by Jamie Scott).

Disillusioned, Danny quits, leaving his spot to New York based Steve Augeri (formerly with Tall Stories, Augieri would raise to fame when he joined Journey in 1996), and for a while little is heard of the singer, untill he suddenly resurfaces on the Heavy Blues Rock supergroup Flesh And Blood (which included Mark Mangold of Drive, She Said and Al Pitrelli of Megadeth) album Blues For Daze (issued in 1997 through Now And Then). Meanwhile, Tyketto has changed its musical direction towards a semblance of Journey (keep that fact in mind for later reference) for their 1995 album Shine. When Augeri departed, Music For Nations honoured the band by the release of 1996's Take Out And Served Up Live (a compilation of demo and live tracks).

With Tyketto's drummer announcing that he was certainly interested in working with Vaughn again, rumours surfaced about a possible Tyketto reunion. What actually happened was a getting together of Vaughn with his Tyketto pals Clayton and Scott, to work on a set of songs leaning heavily towards Blues and more acoustic based Rock, which would entice Z Records to contract the newly formed band (augmented with guitarist P.J. Zitarosa and keyboard player Kyle Cummins) under the Vaughn monicker, and released a total of three albums (2000's Soldiers And Sailors On Riverside, preceeded by the 3-track Is That All There Is EP which included a non-album song and interview with the singer; 2001's Fearless, and the 2002 Forever Live, obviously a live recording). Among its other accomplishments, Vaughn supported Asia during its extensive UK tour in March and April of 2002.

During 2003 Danny is approached by Frontiers Records producer and bassist Fabrizio Grossi with the idea of releasing a record in the classic Melodic Rock vein, using songs from other writers as well as his own for a project to be known as From The Inside (and using the services of guitarist JM Scattolin, Grossi himself on bass and keyboards, plus drummers Masayoshi Yamasuka and Joachin Cannaiuolo). After the recordings for that project (released late August 2004), Danny recruited an all new live band (including Contagious guitarist Tony Marshall, Passion Street & Brave New World guitarist Pat Heath, Ten bassist Steve McKenna and his bandmate drummer Greg Morgan) in late 2003, a unit which debuted in March of 2004 supporting UK gigs of Firehouse. During 2004, Vaughn would reform Tyketto in its original line-up of St. James, Kennedy and Clayton for European dates November 2004. Meanwhile, he continued to tour with his own band (the drummer after a while replaced by Paradise Lost's Lee Morris), which had a much heavier sound due to its twin guitar attack (while also allowing Danny to continue doing some acoustic songs as well), so when Danny approached Frontiers during 2006 for the release of a new album with songs done by this outfit, it was agreed that the Traveller album (released in February 2007, review done by collegue Eric posted the 18th of same month) would be issued under the Danny Vaughn monicker. Following the album's release, Danny was invited to support Journey on their UK tour (as well as some European gigs), which he did with an acoustic set. He also played some more Tyketto shows, appearing at the highly praised UK Firefest.

Last Winter Danny and Fabrizio got together with keyboardist Eric Ragno to start a first writing session for a new From The Inside album, a session from which the first 6 songs were born. Later 5 more songs (being "If It's Not Love", "Listen To Your Heart", "21st Century", "Days Of Hunger", and "One More Night In Heaven") written especially for the album by Tom and James Martin (of Khymera, Ted Poley and House Of Lords repute) were added to the set, as well as "Love Is No Stranger" written by Joey Carbone (of Joseph Williams' band). Early 2008 recordings were done by Jime Bell (House Of Lords), whom was also to handle all guitar playing duties. Also in the line-up aside Vaughn, Grossi (also responsible for additional guitars) and Ragno, was drummer Peter Lobo.

The end result is an amazing Melodic Rock album with a Heavy edge which grows on one with every listening session. It's almost uncanny how a reminiscence to Journey forces itself upon one, and this especially in the song "Making Waves" (actually, at first I thought this was a cover, but after looking through my Journey and Steve Perry albums – got 'em all, you know – I finally got convinced the track is an all-original, worthy to be featured in the Journey catalog). The romantic lyrical side and frequent semi-ballad atmosphere of the songs further make the link with America's finest Melodic Rock act! Now I've tried my best to find you some Internet sites which feature music off the new album, but I'm afraid I only found the one song (hahah, and would you know, that's "Making Waves"...what a coincidence...or is it?)on the label's MySpace page at myspace.com/frontiersrecords. For 4 songs off the first FTI album (plus some video footage from both Danny Vaughn, Tyketto, and Waysted), check out fanpage myspace.com/fromtheinsidevaughn.

It won't give you a complete idea of the man's music and vocal abilities, and in reality it took me a couple of listening sessions to truely get into the guy. But with those sessions behind me I Am now completely and totally hung up on him. Truly, it saddens me to have come to the end of this review, as it means me having to turn the page and start checking out the following artist's album to review!

92/100

Tony.