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August 2025

• Strangers: Boundless
• Jack The Joker: The Devil To Pay In The Backlands

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Strangers: Boundless

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

4.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 18.08.2025 | Released: 22.08.2025

Hailing from Madrid, Strangers was formed by guitarist Miguel Martin and drummer Abel Ramos in 2012. The band would release three album: Emotions (2013), Survival (2015) mixed and mastered by Erik Martensson, and Brand New Start (2019). Following some personnel changes, Strangers added vocalist Celia Barloz, a prominent vocal coach who was also doing background vocals for the band. Now, Strangers returns with the latest and fourth long player, Boundless, on the Frontiers Music label.

Strangers

Commenting on the new album, the quartet said: Boundless represents a powerful new chapter for us: louder, bolder, and more intense than ever. The album marks a clear evolution in our sound: heavier and more energetic yet deeply rooted in emotional melodies. Tracks like Still The One and Worth A Shot perfectly embrace our new fresh identity, modern, powerful, and full of attitude.

Simply, and essentially, Strangers plays classic melodic hard rock, perhaps with some metal edge in the guitar lines, but consistently wrapped in AOR accessibility. Consistency might be the key word to their music. Across the album there is consistency in fine songwriting with emphasis upon song melody, vocal harmony, rock rhythm and grove, catchy choruses, and inspired guitar solos. Ms Barloz' voice and vocal arrangements are notable and impressive adding a singular added dimension to the Strangers' sound.

You'll find some solid rockers with Enemy, Freedom, Still The One, and Worth A Shot, a personal favorite. Ballads of a sort come with Goodbye and My Dream. The latter, in an acoustic version, is included as a bonus track. One final comment: While I rarely comment on album art work, something better could have been done: something equivalent to the quality of the music within or, at the very least, more creative.

All in all, for a contemporary exploration of classic AOR-driven melodic hard rock, Strangers and their latest album Boundless is spot on and quite entertaining. Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

All in all, for a contemporary exploration of classic AOR-driven melodic hard rock, Strangers and their latest album Boundless is spot on and quite entertaining. Recommended.

Support the artist, click the link below to buy the album at Amazon (US site) in your favorite format.

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