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Sabu: Banshee
Paul Sabu - Banshee Album Art

Sabu: Banshee

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 12.12.2022 | Released: 09.12.2022

Sabu, of course, is Paul Sabu, the legendary songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. His name, talent, and experience is synonymous with AOR melodic hard rock. His thirty plus year music resume includes an astonishing amount of famous talent: Alice Cooper, Madonna, John Waite, and Shania Twain. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Here and there, Sabu also drops a solo project under his own name. This year's Banshee is sixth solo album, the first in 24 years. On the recording, Sabu is assisted by Barry Sparks, known for his work with UFO, Dokken, and Ted Nugent, among others.

Paul Sabu Click For Larger Image

Paul Sabu

As you might expect, Banshee finds Sabu at the top of his genre. But I might also add that the songs within Banshee veer more towards melodic hard rock than traditional AOR. Though not without these accessibility of the latter, these songs rock harder, may even seem a tad darker for AOR. Additionally, between the solid dense riffage, deeper rhythm section, bristling solos, and Sabu's edgy almost sneering vocal style, the song composition could turn to melodic metal. But the AOR feel arises in Sabu's natural emphasis upon song melody, rock groove, and vocal harmony.



These things are notable within Love Don't Shatter, Blinded Me, Rock, and Rock The House. That last song has some rip-roaring brisk riffage and a charging pace. Alternatively, Back Side Of Water throws listeners a curve with its mellow synth start, only to quickly kick out the jams into a quite rhythmic heavy rocker. But the rock groove and catchy chorus is what makes the song AOR accessible. I can imagine this song raising the roof in an arena. While not so much a milder song, but Turn On The Radio On is both heavy and steady tempo with intense determination. Another song of interest is Dirty Money, the energetic bass and drums of the rhythm section rule this song.

All in all, Sabu's Banshee once more proves that this legendary artist continues to create classic and entertaining AOR melodic hard rock. This time around perhaps heavier and edgier. Easily recommended.


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The Take Away

Sabu's Banshee once more proves that this legendary artist continues to create classic and entertaining AOR melodic hard rock. This time around perhaps heavier and edgier. Easily recommended.

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