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April 2024

• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
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March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
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February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
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January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
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Fortune: II

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 10.04.2019 | Released: 26.04.2019

Formed by Fortune brothers Richard (guitar) and Mick (drums) better than 40 years ago, their namesake band has the interesting, but not totally uncommon, distinction of having two eponymous debut albums. The first self-titled came in 1978, the second in 1985 after a major band renovation. The latter album received some popular acclaim from both critics and AOR fans alike. After several resurrections beginning in 2006, Richard and Mick return with a new Fortune band and a new album II for Frontiers Music.

Fortune

With little doubt, one spin of this album gave me deja vu all over again. Like Reagan era America, a young James Spader and Michael J. Fox, and a time traveling DeLorean. The Fortune sound is pure late Seventies (think some Asia) and early Eighties AOR melodic hard rock, before glam and sleaze made MTV as their own. Their music has the quintessential classic rock ingredients: fine vocal harmony, lively guitar lines with soaring solos, strong beat and groove from the rhythm section, and vivid keyboards, which go beyond mere embellishment. All these things are wrapped up in abundant melody and harmony, and sweetened by catchy refrains. All that's left to do is mention a few song highlights.

You'll find some fine arena rockers with Shelter Of The Night, Overload, What A Fool I've Been, and the big drums and brisk pace of All The Right Moves. Alternatively, anthemic arena ballads arrive with A Little Drop Of Poison and Heart Of Stone, both driven by a piano line but quickly swelling with riffs, synths, and drums with a guitar solo to follow. While the synths are ever present, you'll discover a solo within The Night, about two minutes in. Across the album, I was also impressed with Larry Greene's strong voice and smooth vocal presence, Richard Fortune's stirring guitar solos, and the crisp clean production.

Whatever has been missing from their early career has not been lost with Fortune. II is fine return to form, a simply strong and entertaining album of classic AOR melodic hard rock. Recommended.

Lance King: ReProgram

Melodic Progressive Power Metal

5.0/5.0

Label owner, vocalist, and cosmic spiritual philosopher of heavy metal, Lance King returns with a new solo album, ReProgram. This is only his second solo album in... [ Read More ]

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

Whatever has been missing from their early career has not been lost with Fortune. II is fine return to form, a simply strong and entertaining album of classic AOR melodic hard rock. Recommended.

Alphabetical Index

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]