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Perfect View: Red Moon Rising

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

3.5/5.0

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Avenue of Allies Records
Words by Craig Hartranft,  14.05.2014

After a four year absence from the studio, Italy's Perfect View returns with their second effort, Red Moon Rising, again on the Avenue of Allies label. Their debut was a mixed production of innocuous and wispy West Coast AOR and other songs leaning more towards melodic hard rock.

Perfect View: another sullen rock band.

Mostly, Red Moon Rising favors that latter course. But you wouldn't get that from the first track, Where The Wind Blows. The opening notes tell you two things: it's a return to the Eighties and this AOR melodic rock. Then, Perfect View shifts gears entirely offering melodic hard rock with By My Side, Room 14, and Slave to Empire. While they may offer moments of subtlety, these are largely rockers.

With a one exception, to the end, Perfect View keeps this course. I Will Remember is the only ballad, then we're back to the traditional melodic hard rock with plenty of groove, melody, catchy refrains, and large guitar solos. The stand out tracks in the latter half of the album would be Dead End Street and Holdin' On, which builds like an arena anthem. Perfect View also covers Toto's Home of the Brave from The Seventh Home, likely the band's least popular album. While my recollection of this song is hazy, this selection clearly demonstrates the roots of Perfect View's music. With Red Moon Rising, it appears Perfect View has found there groove, sticking more to melodic hard rock in an AOR wrapper. It's solid, if not simply representative, music for the genre.

Perfect View - Red Moon Rising (Trailer)

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

With Red Moon Rising, it appears Perfect View has found there groove, sticking more to melodic hard rock in an AOR wrapper. It's solid, if not simply representative, music for the genre.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]