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Grace: Hope
Grace - Hope Album Art

Grace: Hope

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 08.06.2022 | Released: 10.06.2022

Grace is a new band formed by and around Isra Ramos, an accomplished vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Spain. If you have heard of the fellow, that's terrific. But Ramos is new to this guy. Besides being prominent within Spain's musical arena, Ramos has worked with Alberto Rionda and Mike Terrana; performed with bands such as Alquimia and Avalanch; and shared the stage with Scorpions, Angra, and many others.

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Grace

His Grace project started in 2018 and features a bevy of accomplished Spaniards in the band. As far as I can deduce, Hope is Isra and Grace's first album. The album also features Chilean singer and European transplanted Ronnie Romero on the track, Evergarden.

Musically then, Grace's songs turn upon classic rock dosed with some metal edge and heaviness, a smidgen of synths, which can give the Grace sound some modern pop-like nuances, and accessible rock rhythm and groove. With all these things, you find Isra's versatile vocals at the forefront. Versatile is to say that his range can vary from smooth to assertive, yet he's melodic and clean, and not without some soulful emotion to boot.

Speaking to some representative songs, you'll find the classic mixed with modern with Atreyu, wherein synths echo with the rock heaviness. The Sinner is similar but with subtle smoothness to start and heaviness to rise by the middle. Fiona turns more upon a faster groove with pep mingled with AOR arena motivation. Perhaps more strictly hard and heavy is Invincible with assertive riffs, some metal edge, and powerful guitar work. Yet the song is tempered by a fine vocal arrangement, especially self-evident as the tune finishes. Atomic Heart is another more simplified rocker which seems tempered by Ramos' more sensitive and subtle vocal presentation. Synths are found underneath and the guitar solo, after a vocal breakdown skirmish, brief but significant. If you're looking for a non-traditional ballad it comes with the brief closing tune Hope. The arrangement features Ramos over light guitar with his voice more emotional.

All said, Isra Ramos' Grace and new album, Hope is a fine platter of classic AOR hard rock merged with some modern synthetic nuances, yet with his fine voice at the helm. The variety within the songs makes for a explorative listen. Recommended.




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The Take Away

Isra Ramos' Grace and new album, Hope is a fine platter of classic AOR hard rock merged with some modern synthetic nuances, yet with his fine voice at the helm. The variety within the songs makes for a explorative listen. Recommended.

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