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ToJa: V

Melodic Hard Rock

4.0/5.0

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Pure Rock Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 05.07.2017

Formed in 1997 by the "To" and "Ja" of vocalist Tommy Rinn and guitarist Jan Thielking, Toja celebrate 20 years making melodic hard rock in Germany. They celebrate by releasing their fifth album, appropriately title V, once more on the Pure Rock Records label.

Toja

The album is basically standard ToJa material, which is melodic hard rock, sometimes with a metal, often enveloped in an AOR wrapper. Not discounting the other players or instruments, but any ToJa song pretty much revolves around Rinn's classic hard rock vocals and Thielking's song composition and guitar parts. His riffs and solos hold sway over most other instruments.

As for the songs, you have some straight of melodic rockers with Tears Of Fire. Other songs like Forever Rock and Where's My Home have something of a metal edge in the riffage. But the latter songs also turns on a strong rock groove and catchy refrain to give it an AOR quality. Then there's Love Is Like A Sin, which has this brooding and heavy feeling in its pacing, chunky riffs, and thick bottom end. I think it might be one of favorite songs here. Two ballads come with Ballad Of A Friend and Don't Let Me Go, both developed with acoustic guitar. Also, there's the fine hard rock instrumental Senza Cantata, which features Thielking's slick guitar work. The album closes with ToJa getting their blues groove going with Ashes To Ashes.

All in all, V is another solid and consistent effort from ToJa, a decent, if not predictable, album of guitar driven melodic hard rock. If you're a fan of the band, you'll want to get it. Recommended.

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

All in all, V is another solid and consistent effort from ToJa, a decent, if not predictable, album of guitar driven melodic hard rock.

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