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New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
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Phoenix Rising: On the Loose
Phoenix Rising: On the Loose
Melodic (Hard) Rock / AOR
3.5/5.0
Here's an original project, Phoenix Rising, from two very talented Italian musicians: Titta Tani (Vocals/background vocals and drums) and Paolo Caucci (guitars, bass-guitar and keyboards). They both have varied backgrounds, including progressive rock and other genres. With On the Loose they combine for AOR melodic rock.
Phoenix Rising:: in studio.
Call it derivative, but the tunes on On the Loose are natural, a bit heavier, AOR melodic rock. This material would be for fans of Giant, Pride of Lions, and most any intense European melodic hard rock. On the Loose Again, Mr. Dr, Written on a Stone, and Give It a Name are examples of his heavier AOR sound. But that's not dismissing the hooks or melodies within. More traditional AOR melodic rock comes with No Lie to Say and Believe, both very catchy songs.
So, essentially, On the Loose is an AOR hybrid. While the original songs are examples of this heaver melodic AOR, especially On the Loose Again, there's a cover song that gives balance. That song is Talk to You Later, possibly the only accessible song by The Tubes; by Phoenix Rising, it's less Eighties New Wave and more hard rock. It makes me wonder if the band would do better doing cover songs: it's that good.
Bottom line: On the Loose is adequate and entertaining AOR melodic rock, definitely on the harder side of the genre. There's much promise here, both in musicianship and songwriting. Let's hope for more and better in the future. Recommended.
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Bottom line: On the Loose is adequate and entertaining AOR, and heavier, melodic rock There's much promise here, both in musicianship and songwriting. Let's hope for more and better in the future.
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