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Khymera: Hold Your Ground
Khymera - Hold Your Ground Album Art

Khymera: Hold Your Ground

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
5.0/5.0

Internet (Label)
Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.02.2023 | Released: 10.02.2023

Now firmly at the helm, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Dennis Ward (Unisonic, Pink Cream 69, et al) returns with the sixth Khymera album, Hold Your Ground. Over the past few albums, Khymera has developed into more than a project, rather, perhaps a band with consistent players. Hold Your Ground once more features guitarist Michael Klein, keyboardist Eric Ragno, and Pete Newdeck contributing backing vocals. The guest position has always been the drummer with Michael Kolar (Horseman, Thomsen, et al) filling the spot.

Dennis Ward Click For Larger Image

Dennis Ward

As well-known, Dennis Ward is a master craftsman when it comes to AOR melodic hard rock. His contributions to many bands and accompanying accolades for his work are voluminous. For Khymera he's the principal songwriter, composer, bass player, and lead vocalist. The latter spot has not been his usual but more often contributing backing vocals. Honestly, whenever I see a picture of Ward, I don't see a lead vocalist. Perhaps a drummer or bassist in a heavy metal band. (He may chuckle at that.) But he's a fine melodic vocalist who executes with melody and passion.



Simply, via Khymera, Ward offers quite catchy songs filled with guitar and vocal harmony, thrilling solos, a dash of synths, and catchy refrains, all clothed in song melody, harmony, and rock groove for AOR accessibility. If you can't find something to like, you need turn in your AOR membership card. (There's no such thing.) Simply, and perhaps cliché, Hold Your Ground is all killer with no filler. For straight up classic melodic hard rock, I can point to Hear What I'm Saying, riff rocking Runaway, Hear Me Calling, or Don't Wait For Love. Perhaps slightly subdued, there's Believe I What You Want and especially Our Love Is Killing Me. Then Could Have Been Us is a fine mix all things: smooth to start, only to rise to rock as it progresses.

All said, Khymera's Hold Your Ground is another fine album of AOR melodic hard rock from Dennis Ward, a veteran and versatile master of the genre. Like previous albums, if you're a fan of the band and the genre, this album is not to be missed. Quite recommended.



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The Take Away

All said, Khymera's Hold Your Ground is another fine album of AOR melodic hard rock from Dennis Ward, a veteran and versatile master of the genre. Like previous albums, if you're a fan of the band and the genre, this album is not to be missed. Quite recommended.

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