New Music Review : Powell-Payne - Voila : CD Album Music Review : Dangerdog Music Reviews : By Craig Hartranft

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Powell-Payne: Voilá

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Powell-Payne: Voilá

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 02.12.2024 | Released: 22.11.2024

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 Steve Leyshon, the duo would quickly drop their first single, The Distance Between Us. Encouraged by positive reviews, Powell and Payne formed a full band with Aydan Watkins on guitar and Alex Anderson on bass.

Powell-Payne

Voilá, which includes their first single, is their debut album having signed to Italy's Frontiers Music. Vocalist Adam Payne describes the album as "a collection of powerful tracks mixed with some good old fashioned melodic rock with a tip of the hat to 80's giants." With a full band in place Powell-Payne hope to tour in support of the new album.

Considering the music, Voilá is everything as advertised: classic melodic hard rock in an AOR wrapper. You know the formula: strong song melody informed by sharp guitar riffs and vocal harmony, the power with rock rhythm and groove, and completed by hooks in the refrains and powerful guitar solos. The album gets off to a strong start with some brisk hard rock tunes: Better Days, No Escape, and Voices. The Storm gives you your first taste of milder AOR anthem, ending with an epic guitar solo.

Then Powell-Payne blow the doors off with Staring At The Sun and Girl Like You, both heavier rockers, the former nearing melodic metal rock. Then there's another shift in gears to the end of the album with more dialed back, AOR-oriented, songs, notably Questions, Fly High, All For Love, and especially Distance Between Us. Yet in the middle of these five songs is another riff rocker, Taking Back Yesterday. The fundamental thread woven across the album is simply fine song writing and arranging working with equally exceptional musicianship.

All said, as debut, Powell-Payne's Voilá is an exceptional platter of classic, AOR-driven, melodic hard rock thanks to fine song craftsmanship and spry, talented musicianship. Easily recommended.

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