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Departure: Hitch A Ride
Departure: Hitch A Ride
Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
4.0/5.0
Website (Label)
Escape Music
by Craig Hartranft, 04.02.2012
Absent for nearly a decade, Mike Walsh returns with his Departure project, and fourth album Hitch A Ride. As with the three previous albums, Walsh introduces a new lead vocalist. This time it's the familiar voice of Silent Call's Andi Kravljaca.
Overall, Hitch A Ride is an expected and sound album of melodic hard rock. It's all familiar territory for Walsh and company: big melodies and hooks, and even bigger guitar solos from Walsh. Mostly the album rocks hard. Even the songs that could aspire to be ballads, Roses or Without You, don't mess much with sweetener. Although both Waiting for Rain to Come and the oddly cute LuvSick ave a syrupy goofiness to them. Generally, then, the gloves are off with fine rocking tunes like No Where to Go, Soldier of Fortune, and Travel Through Time. For pure radio-friendly pleasure the best pick is You Don't Need to Do This Anymore.
Hitch A Ride is a welcome return from Mike Walsh and Departure. Here's some no frills entertaining melodic hard rock. Recommended.
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In Short
With Hitch A Ride we welcome back guitarist Mike Walsh and his Departure project, after a ten year absence, and it's a fine return: entertaining classic melodic hard rock.
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