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April 2024

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Passion: Passion

Melodic Heavy Metal Rock

4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 16.01.2020 | Released: 24.01.2020

In one sense, Passion is something of a solo project from Night By Night vocalist Lion Ravarez. The UK based musician played most of the instruments and handled production. But Passion has also evolved into a band featuring Weston James on bass and backing vocals, Chance Vanderlain on guitar and backing vocals, and Bobby Laker on drums. Their self-titled debut album hits the streets on the Frontiers Music label.

Passion

With one listen, there's little doubt. Ravarez and Passion are channeling classic Eighties melodic hard rock, very guitar driven, with a metal edge, and then wrapped in AOR accessibility. All the songs are flush with strong and harmonious riffs, catchy melodies and refrains, thick rhythm and groove, and epic guitar solos. Frankly, the guitar work is pretty fandamntastic. Love slick riffs and blistering guitar solos? You'll love this album. Over this Ravarez sings clean, melodic, and assertive. He's got leather lungs and can really belt it out. If I could revise my description of the Passion sound, I'd call it guitar-driven melodic heavy metal rock. A subtle nuance, but a nuance all the same.

You'll here this within the raging rock of Back, Too Bad For Baby, Big Game, and especially Intensity which, I think, has like four guitar solos. Alternatively, Passion bumps up the rock with a boogie groove with Victims Of Desire, Built To Please, and She Bites Hard, where the riffs and groove steal a page from the AC/DC musical play book. Oh, by the way, no pussy ballads included. All said, Passion's debut album is pretty kick ass, delivering very fine melodic heavy metal rock. Easily recommended.

Jorn: Heavy Rock Radio II

Melodic Heavy Rock

4.0/5.0

A few years back Ronnie James protégé Jorn Lande threw fans a bit of a curve ball by dropping a covers album, Heavy Rock Radio. Wherein Jorn picked some of his ... [ Read More ]

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 said, Passion's debut album is pretty kick ass, delivering very fine melodic heavy metal rock. Easily recommended.

Alphabetical Index

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]