
Third album, very spaced out in time, for the Frozen Rain project led by the Belgian composer Kurt Vereecke. After the debut of 2008 and its follow-up «Ahead of time» in 2012, this new album is announced by Lions Pride Music for October 30th. The name of the group proposes a Rock of wet sensibility, the intentional meaning of the title and the desired destination represented on the cover, let us see clearly that this album is aimed at the charming heart of Melodic Rock and all its followers.
FROZEN RAIN are Kurt Vereecke: Keyboards, bass, clean guitar & backing vocals; Lars Edvall: Lead & backing vocals; Jens Ambrosch: Lead & rhythm guitar; Jurgen Vitrier: Keyboards, bass, acoustic guitar & backing vocals; Hans Vereecke: Drums. It is worth noting among the invited musicians the drummer Roy Nichol (April Wine), the guitarist Roger Ljunggren (T’Bell/Niva) and the excellent guitarist from the Canary Islands Fran Alonso (Krull/Hackers).
With the current captivating simplicity of the Greek project Strangerland or the capital quality of StormWarning it is presented in 2023. And with the beloved musical nostalgia of, for example, The Storm, Tradia or Steel Breeze, an AOR packed with a lot of melodic faith is transmitted on “One Mile From Heartsville”. Both in this initial title track and in the album as a whole, that kidnapping sound that captivates us at first listen rubs our souls. The bass rumbles correctly in the rhythm, the songs have a melodic body, the bombastic keyboards attract you, the guitars have sinewy muscle, the guitar solos opt for a young John Norum, the singer flattens like Mitch Malloy and the high voices seduce us. “Move On” sports a chilling intro and a monstrous Magnum wave guitar and keyboard development, it expresses itself powerfully with a gritty Hard Aor and guts outside.
“Fire” goes back to the laws of the melodic 80’s with full force and feeling. The drummer and the bassist sound human and varied, everything is perfectly adjusted, the singer stands out in his low range and stands out in high oscillations, the choirs burn and the solo parts are luxurious in all the songs. The soft and androgynous Rock of “She’s The One” is velvety, resembling that of the most sugary Robby Valentine, the immaculate Stryper and the airs of Dare very oxygenated. In “How Could I Know” that contrast of extra melodic voice to Göran Edman is materialized with that Hard and vital sound that the entire band interprets. They fly over remote tessituras of C.I.T.A., and without being too similar, the proposal is close to the adorable and linear Gary Hughes with the most rockers of him.
In “Let Me Love You” they repeat those wonderful instrumental introductions in a Gary Moore context and walk with Giuffria’s elegant walk. Succulent song that transforms into Road Rock with virtuous and dominant guitar, high and changing tempos of incessant intensity. The voice adapts in “One Of These Mornings” to Chicago and Toto by Joseph Williams, to the Old Retro Wave with a sense of Hi-Tech Aor by Peter Cetera, Mr. Mister, Body Electric, Planet 3, West of Sunset, Toys of Joy, Time Gallery, Work of Art…or Generation Radio. Next, he is characterized as the main protagonist in an innocent melodious Westcoast, magical Soul with beautiful female choirs, light and romantic music for a very cuddly Crooner, with cinematographic ambition is “More Than A Friend”. Delicious!!!. The exquisite guitar input and the happy Hard riffs in “What’s It Gonna Be” sound like Danger Danger to me, they ignite with a very melodic and wild compositional powder. This singer hunts his melodies on the fly like Ted Poley and the guitarist is a phenomenon. They are as typically appetizing on “Ready For Tonight” as Europe was with their European sound to conquer the world. In that continuist category of those initials FM, Treat, Alien, Glory, Talk of the Town, Bad Habit, Return or DaVinci we can properly relate to Frozen Rain.
For samples, “That’s Why I’m Loving You”, with its tempting youthful musical provocation, or “The Waiting’s Over” through those tuned guitars in the Giant key, large and tremendous keyboards, decisive drums, walled bass and select voice, in person shy and correct but with a captivating and very attractive profile.
Frozen Rain, you will like it… a lot.