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Kee Of Hearts: Kee Of Hearts

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.09.2017

On the heels of his fourth solo album, 2016's Scaling Up, guitarist Kee Marcello (ex-Europe) returns with a new band, Kee Of Hearts. He partners with Fair Warning vocalist Tommy Heart, joined by Ken Sandin (ex-Alien) on bass and Marco Di Salvia (Pino Scotto) on drums. Their self-titled debut album was recorded and mixed by Frontiers Music producer Alessandro Del Vecchio, who also adds keyboards and backing vocals.

Kee Of Hearts

In some sense you could call this Kee Of Hearts album a follow up to Marcello's previous solo album. The only difference being is that he's not handling the lead vocal duties. Mostly, Kee Of Hearts delivers melodic hard rock, sometimes with a metal edge, yet easily draped in an AOR wrapper. Though Marcello was an influential part of Europe, Kee Of Hearts sounds nothing like Europe's poodle hair melodic metal. (Breathe a sigh of relief.) Essentially a guitar-centric band, the Kee of Hearts sound features Marcello's melodic and harmonious riffs and soaring solos. Yet these things don't exist in a vacuum. They're surrounded by sharp song composition that offers strong vocal arrangements, hooks from melodies and catchy refrains, a powerful rock groove from the rhythm section, and a dash of light keyboards.

For the songs, you get some heftier ones, offering some metal edge, with The Storm, Crimson Dawn, or Stranded. Alternatively, you'll sense a more warm AOR feeling from the large vocal arrangement and groove of Edge Of Paradise, the arena ready sound of Invincible, and the very catchy refrain within Mama Don't Cry. That latter song might be the closest thing to a ballad here. Otherwise, most every song rocks. All said, Kee Of Hearts offers a fine and entertaining album of guitar forward classic melodic hard rock in an AOR wrapper. Yet one wonders if this band is merely a one-off gig or something more long term, only time will tell. Recommended.

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Kee Of Hearts offers a fine and entertaining album of guitar forward classic melodic hard rock in an AOR wrapper. Yet one wonders if this band is merely a one-off gig or something more long term, only time will tell. Recommended.

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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 ]