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Wheels Of Fire: Up For Anything

Melodic (Hard) Rock/AOR

4.0/5.0

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Avenue of Allies Records
by Craig Hartranft,  11.29.2012

With the their sophomore album, Up For Anything, Italian rockers Wheel of Fire have become a full band. The core founders, vocalist Davide “Dave Rox” Barbieri and guitar player Stefano Zeni, are now joined by Marcello Suzzani on bass, Andrea Vergori on keyboards & piano and Fabrizio Uccellini on drums.

What has not changed is their commitment to Eighties style, AOR melodic rock, yet on the more edgier size. Songs like pain, No Mercy, and Don't Walk Away, by example, definitely the melodic hard rock. Alternatively, Web of Lies and Tell Me venture into the lighter AOR side, with the latter more a ballad. Then Respect straddles the fence starting almost Westcoast breezy, but then growing into a nice rock groove and blistering guitar solo.

Fundamentally, across the entire album, there's a definite heavier edge, with more grit and gusto to most every song. This is something they didn't quite capture with their debut album Hollywood Rocks. Does this make this album better? Not so much, just a different, at the very least an evolution in their sound. 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.

Wheels of Fire returns with more AOR-style melodic rock, but with an obvious heavier, edgier, feel than before.

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Here's a fun fact about Swiss legends, Gotthard: their last 16 releases, excepting their debut album, went to number one in their home country, making them one of Switzerland's most successful acts and ... [ Read More ]