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Decarlo: Lightning Strikes Twice

AOR Melodic (Hard) Rock

4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 15.01.2020 | Released: 24.01.2020

Decarlo is the namesake band of vocalist Tommy DeCarlo, which also features his son and guitarist Tommy DeCarlo Jr. If you're scratching your head, wondering where you heard that name before, let me refresh your memory. DeCarlo senior has been the lead vocalist for the iconic rock band Boston since 2008. An accomplished songwriter, DeCarlo contributed songs to Boston's 2013 studio album, Life, Love & Hope. Now vocalist gets to expand his repertoire with a solo album of 12 songs, Lightning Strikes Twice.

Decarlo

If you're expecting some clone of the Boston sound from Decarlo, you can put that thought out of your mind. Think more straight up, guitar-driven, AOR melodic hard rock from a musical current running through the Seventies and Eighties. With a vocalist at the songwriting helm, you can also expect the songs to be large on melody and harmony with big hooks and catchy choruses. DeCarlo has a smooth and melodic voice which leads the song harmony, yet also, quite naturally, tempers the hard rock edge. As for Tommy Jr, he's an exceptional guitarist. His riffs move with song melody and harmony, and his leads are creative and crisp. Essentially, this album is chock-full of solid arena ready and radio friendly AOR rock. If there were still AOR radio stations today, this album would be a staple of daily play.

For a short selection of songs, you'll find fine melodic rockers with A Better Day, There She Goes, Stand Up, and the riff rocker Gotta Go. The title cut finds Decarlo getting a bit heavier in the riffage, thicker in the rhythm section. Rock N' Soul, perhaps my favorite, is exactly that, a blend of rock and soul with a hip groove. AOR ballads come with Still In Love and The One, both with requisite soaring guitar solo. All in all, Decarlo's Lightning Strikes Twice is a fine and enjoyable album of creative AOR melodic rock with great vocals and solid guitar work. Easily recommended.

Dragonlore: Lucifer's Descent

Traditional Heavy Metal

4.0/5.0

Information about Dragonlore is more than a little sketchy. This much I have deduced. Dragonlore is an American (perhaps from Michigan) traditional heavy metal band ... [ 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.

Decarlo's Lightning Strikes Twice is a fine and enjoyable album of creative AOR melodic rock with great vocals and solid guitar work. Easily recommended.

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By far, Sweden's Eclipse is one of my favorite bands. Always consistent and always entertaining, Eclipse has been delivering their 21st century version of melodic metal rock since songwriter, producer ... [ Read More ]