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Robin McAuley: Alive
Robin McAuley - Alive Album Art

Robin McAuley: Alive

Melodic Metal Rock
4.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 15.02.2023 | Released: 17.02.2023

Something of a legend in hard rock and heavy metal, Irish vocalist Robin McAuley is well into his fifth decade of making music. In the last decade he has not slowed down on bit, performing with Raiding The Rock Vault in Las Vegas, Michael Schenker Fest, and Black Swan. More recently, McAuley can be heard providing a duet with Spanish vocalist Gabriella de Val on her debut solo album, Kiss In A Dragon Night, also releasing this month. McAuley returns with his third solo album, Alive, once more on the Frontiers Music label.

Robin McAuley Click For Larger Image

Robin McAuley

With his wealth of experience, Alive finds McAuley in a familiar musical context: melodic metal rock. Perhaps heavier than 2021's Standing On The Edge with its tough riffs, bolder rhythm section, and epic solos, the songs still rock. But this to be expected. McAuley was raised in that music generation were heavy metal rocked and was merged with clean melodic vocals. McAuley's style has always offered something a vocal conundrum whereas he can dovetail metal screamo assertiveness with smoother melodic AOR melody. This juxtaposition is self-evident with the move between the heavy rocker Feel Like Hell and the rock anthem Can't Go On.


Otherwise, considering the album in toto, most songs turn upon the aforementioned melodic metal rock. Notable heavy rockers include Bless Me Father, The Endless Mile, Dead As A Bone, and the powerful Stronger Than before which has a pummeling bass line. After the also mentioned Can't Go On, there are really no other "lighter" songs on this album. There are, perhaps, a few songs that bump up the rock groove like My Only Son or Alive which has some subtle keyboard lines and finer vocal arrangement, but it's still heavy. All said, Alive finds septuagenarian singer Robin McAuley in fine form, belting out vocals to the sound of melodic metal rock. If you're a fan of the vocalist and genre, you will want this album. Recommended.



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The Take Away

All said, Alive finds septuagenarian singer Robin McAuley in fine form, belting out vocals to the sound of melodic metal rock. If you're a fan of the vocalist and genre, you will want this album. Recommended.

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