Marcello - Vestry - Marcello - Vestry
NL Distribution
Melodic Rock
10 songs (43'39)
Release year: 2008
Marcello - Vestry
Reviewed by Ben
Surprise of the month

This debut release from wonder guitarist Robert Marcello of Danger Danger and vocalist Frank Vestry is a bombshell of melodic rock. Marcello - Vestry is a collaboration album that is on par with Allen - Lande’s The Battle. Similarly, both projects also had a commander in chief behind the scenes that penned the songs. In Allen - Lande’s case it was Magnus Karlsson. Helping out with the writing here is bassist Bruno Ravel who plays alongside Rob in Danger Danger. This has the best elements of sleazy glam metal, AOR balladry and high class melodies, and topped off with a healthy shot of virtuosic guitar playing.

To say that Marcello - Vestry doesn’t sound like an eighties inspired album would be thick headed as one listen will take you back to L.A. circa 1989. Right before grunge came in and culled metal from the mainstream music was being made that sounded like this. Rather than being a simple rehash of eighties nostalgia, Rob and Frank use that sound as a blueprint for their own metal muses. Case in point are the keyboards. While not having a credited keyboardist the duo have utilized them exceptionally well. For bridges and choruses they chime in with some deftly executed backing melodies that really bring out an uplifting spirit from the songs. The insipidly titled All I Wanna Do Is U is made into an anthem that Unskinny Bop tried to be by the way the ivories are tickled. Opener Fireworks has an intro that makes my blood boil. Each time I hear it I want to strap on my Corey Feldman bandana and rock out.

There are two ballads present, Gone and What You Mean. The former is a beast of a ballad. Gone’s a simple tune but the performances from the musicians are phenomenal, especially singer Frank Vestry. As with the majority of the songs, Vestry sings with much conviction and puts meaning behind the sometimes blushingly cliché lyrics. The two biggest offenders would be the up beat Live Life and the other ballad What You Mean. Live Life is a great song. Fucking ace track, a foot tapping rocker. But I don’t want a song to tell me to “wake up in time to smell the flowers.” As for What You Mean, this is the only song that sounds lazy. The chorus melody sounds way, way too familiar and overall it is no where near as charismatic as Gone. Gangster Of Love is the only out and out dud here. It has that “swingy” feel like Helloween did with Crazy Cat from Chameleon. However, it is sandwiched between two C-cups of melodic rock bliss. Love Injection is a mid paced throbbing song that drips with filth. After the fretboard dance in the intro, Vestry proceeds to tell a tale of a lustful midnight rendezvous. Again, take notice in the bridge and the use of keyboards. The melodies are what carry this one and it climaxes with a frenzied solo.

One More Night closes out this collaboration and is such a gorgeous song it gets its own paragraph. This is one of those songs such as Just Like An Arrow by Magnum or You’re Back from Bonfire that will be forever embedded in your head. A steady bassline weaves its way into a melancholy rock song. The pace is quick throughout and makes me feel like I’m cruising down the Strip with the top down and neon lights all around me. Solos are correctly placed and yet again, the bells and whistles of the synthesizers carry this up.

Marcello - Vestry will make the top ten this year of that I am sure of. As a huge fan of melodic rock I am just stunned by how consistent this release is. I have played it over and over again yet I am no where near tired of it. This is a prime example of talented musicians and talented composers that sparked off fantastic chemistry. Robert Marcello, Frank Vestry, and Bruno Ravel, there better be a follow up because this trifecta of rock is too good to let go to waste.

Killing Songs :
One More Night, Gone, Love Injection, Fireworks
Ben quoted 88 / 100
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