Wild Frontier - 2012
Prime Entertainment
Hard Rock
13 songs (49'15)
Release year: 2012
Reviewed by Chris

While I have put Hard-Rock AOR aside for a few years, I must say that I had the pleasure to listen to some really nice albums in this category lately ! And this 2012 by Wild Frontier is no exception. This german band plays an old school Hard-Rock with today's sound and production.

The opener song is actually a rather weak, too generic song, that doesn't display the talent of the band, I would have reserved it for the later tracks along the way, to make a bigger impression. Things start to really pick up with Another Lonely Day Without You and its' really great vocal melody and electric sounding riff. The vocals are quite good, but it seems sometimes that they could use some more polishing here and there, but that's really nit-picking. They do sound "generic" for Hard-Rock but I don't think it's a bad thing really. Somehow the overall sound reminds me a bit of Autograph meets Danger Danger, Jeff Paris & Bon Jovi (vocals none withstanding). For example the vocal melody on Favorite really reminds me of Bon Jovi sometimes. The album actually seems to build up steam towards the middle, with the stronger songs coming near the end. The overall music is well centered around good guitar riffs and excellent melodies (like in It's All Up To You, where the guitar steals the show). The songs breathe positivity, and while they might not be nothing new, they are enjoyable with some great moment where either guitar, vocal melodies or simply song-writing will throw a welcomed curve ball to the mostly formulaic song structure. The album finishes strong with the best songs packed near the end, back to back Tonight Tonight Tonight, Can't You Hear Me Calling, Long Gone bring the pace of the album to a roller coaster-ride, with a more rock infused sound, and punchy enough that it almost reminds me of The Offspring sometimes. Then it's ballad time, and Why Are the Good Things too Hard to Find definitely breathes Bon Jovi classic in terms of song & theme. It's a great ballad, that rivals with the material that obviously inspired it (again vocal wise, I must give the advantage to Bon Jovi though). The last track (bonus) is a cover of Abba's Gimme Gimme Gimme. It's a great cover whose riff really strengthen the song.

In the end Wild Frontier might not have invented anything with 2012, but they play a really positive and passionate Hard Rock, mostly old style. As always as long as good songs and hooks are at the party I'm not one to complain. If you like the aforementioned bands, you might want to check Wild Frontier as well. I will certainly keep my eye on that band from now on and will have to check their back catalog as they have been around for a while (like say 20 years :D).

Killing Songs :
Another Lonely Day Without You, Why Don't You Save Me, Tonight Tonight Tonight, Can't You Hear Me Calling, Long Gone & Why Are the Good Things too Hard to Find.
Chris quoted 71 / 100
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