| CD REVIEW Starbreaker |
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Band : Starbreaker Before Tony Harnell quit TNT (in 2006), he had gotten together with guitarist/ keyboard player (and producer) Magnus Karlsson (of Allen/Lande and Primal Fear fame), bassist/ producer (on the project) Fabrizio Grossi (see also Glenn Hughes), and drummer John Malacuso (of Malmsteen, TNT, and Ark repute) for the recordings of a side-project which was released in late March of 2005. The self-titled album (review done by yours truly posted rather late, on 15/04/2005, due to the then current health issues of our editor-in-chief) gave quite a stir in the Hard Rock world, and not in the least because it showcased Harnell's most aggressive but still diverse vocals ever. After leaving TNT he flew back to homeland USA to take some time off from the whole music business in a necessary period to recharge his batteries, but in late 2007 he contacted Karlsson to start a new writing process. Shortly after he flew back to Sweden, where the two set to work on the songs which were recorded before the year was over with the aid of Malacuso and bassist Jonni Lightfoot (a Salt Lake City native who's been playing with Air Supply for the last 6 years and has at least 3 solo albums to his name on which he dabbles in Nu-Jazz and Rock). With a production done this time by Harnell and Karlsson themselves, the recordings were again mixed by Tommy Hansen (known from his work with TNT, Jorn Pretty Maids, Helloween, and of course the first Starbreaker). Musically, the new material pretty much continues in the vein where the debut album left off, with that difference that there's now also been given some more room for a somewhat more "sensitive" Harnell in the frequently calmer "Hide" (amongst others), which could almost be called a Heavy ballad on the basis of the vocal signature it has. The piano opening of the ensuing "Building A Wall" suggests another such calmer track, and in a way that's not far from the truth, but the song also contains some véry aggressive and sharp guitar intrusions and a very strong high-pitched vocal passages. As always, Harnell brings confirmation of his status of Great Hard Rock singer throughout the album (occasionally returning to his more sensitive touch). Check it all out for yourself by surfing to Tony's myspace.com/tonyharnellonline, where he posted a complete version of the new album's title trackaswellasclipsfrom 3others, plus 2 demo songs for a future (not disclosed) project. The same Starbreaker songs (and in the same versions) can also be found at myspace.com/starbreaker, as well as two complete songs off the first album. Additionally, there's a complete version of album opening track "End Of Alone" at myspace.com/jonnilightfoot (where you can also get acqainted with some of the bassist's own stuff). If you've heard Tony on one of the albums he sang on before (albums by TNT, Morning Wood, Westworld, or of course Starbreaker) and liked what you heard, there's no way any doubt should be in your mind about this new Starbreaker. If indeed the man is an unknown to you, but you dó like Melodic Rock with a Heavy touch, I'm sure you'll fall in love with the guy's voice after listening to the mentioned stuff on MySpace. Personally, I feel the project has opened to show itself more versatile, which only works to making me like this new album even more than their debut! 94/100 Tony. |