• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

December 2024

• After Lapse: Pathways
• Illusion Force: Halfana
• Powell-Payne: Voilá

November 2024

• Sunstorm: Restless Fight
• Storace: Crossfire
• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
• Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
• Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
• Lonerider: Down In The Dust
• Seventh Crystal: Entity
• Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
• Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
• Impellitteri: War Machine
• Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter

October 2024

• Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
• DGM: Endless
• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
• Radioactive: Reset
• House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
• Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire

September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

[ More Music Reviews ]

Dennis DeYoung: 26 East Vol. 2

AOR Melodic Rock

5.0/5.0

Internet
Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 09.06.2021 | Released: 11.06.2021

Last year, in the midst of a global pandemic, we saw the release of Dennis DeYoung's 26 East Vol. 1, an album that was to be his swan song of last recordings. Except until he discovered that he had a whole bunch more songs to offer from a lifetime of musical creativity. The folks at Frontiers Music's suggested dropping two albums to mark the end of his recording career, wherein 26 East Vol. 2 hits the stores. (But I have the gut feeling that this may not be the end.)

Dennis DeYoung

This volume succeeds where the first one left off. DeYoung offers his fans more AOR melodic hard rock infused with his smooth vocals and immense harmonious vocal arrangements, synth symphonic embellishment, wonderful guitar solos, a dash of horns, with all things wrapped up in fashionable song melody and catchy refrains. And, yes, the Styx element and influence remains, but we all know that. Also, longtime friend and fellow Chicagoan Jim Peterik returns to assist in songwriting, but also play bass and guitar. Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine fame appears to add a guitar solo to The Last Guitar Hero. (Listen below.)

Other acts of musical brilliance arrive with the up beat and popish Hello Goodbye and St Quarantine, though the latter is a bit heavier. But that's to say that DeYoung and friends can still rock out, as with Land Of The Living and The Last Guitar Hero. Softer, ballad-like, material comes with Made For Each Other and There's No Turning Back. Then there were my two favorites: Your Saving Grace and Proof Of Heaven. Perhaps two inspirational, even Gospel-inspired numbers, at least maybe the former? The album concludes, appropriately, with the Styx tune, Grand Finale from The Grand Illusion. All said, if 26 East Vols. 1 & 2 are Dennis DeYoung's parting musical recordings, then they are fine ones. His status as a distinguished AOR melodic rock songwriter and musician are easily now legendary. Quite 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 said, if 26 East Vols. 1 & 2 are Dennis DeYoung's parting musical recordings, then they are fine ones. His status as a distinguished AOR melodic rock songwriter and musician are easily now legendary. Quite recommended.

Alphabetical Index

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 ]

• Views: 16K
• Active Users: 4.2K
• New Users: 3.5K
• Event Count: 45K

Source: Google Analytics