Recent Reviews

September 2024

August 2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

April 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Faithsedge: Restoration
Faithsedge Restoration CD Album Review

Faithsedge: Restoration

Melodic Metal
4.5/5.0

Website Facebook
Scarlet Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 08.06.2016

It appears for founder, songwriter, and vocalist Giancarlo Floridia and his Faithsedge project two things are predictable: consistency and change. Yeah, that sounds like an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. But, for his third album, Restoration, I can prove it.

Faithsedge Restoration Band Photo

Faithsedge

First, as for change, Faithsedge has never really had a stable lineup. Floridia is the focal person, obviously, but he changes personnel with each album. Some remain from the last album: former Dokken guitarist Alex De Rosso and Alessandro Del Vecchio (too many credits to mention), producing and providing keyboards once again. Newcomers include Stryper bass player Tim Gaines and drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr .Big). There's lot to be said for having top-notch people in your camp, especially when you're creating classic hard rock.

And that leads to the consistency. Floridia writes and creates classic melodic hard rock with a heavy metal edge. The latter was bumped up on the last album and, I would contend, it's even more prominent now. There's some really hard charging barn burning songs here like Taking Our Lives, This War, Regret It All, and Her Way Back. That last one has the bristling riffs and pace to come close to being power metal. The description should probably the reverse: the tunes here are melodic heavy metal with a strong rock groove wrapped in AOR sensibility. To be fair, there are some slightly milder songs like Faith And Chris, something of an emotional power anthem. Also there's Let You Breathe, a song built upon vocals over acoustic guitar at the start, yet all pushing to a rising crushing crescendo.

Along the way Floridia, as a vocalist, has not sounded stronger. And the guitar work, the riffs and solos are monstrous and appealing. Also, having Del Vecchio behind the knobs makes this entire recording sound both larger and more polished. All in all, I would say Restoration is Faithsedge, Giancarlo Floridia and friends, best and strongest album to date. It definitely puts the heavy metal into the hard rock groove. Recommended.

Faithsedge - Never A Day


Share This Review with Your Friends





CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

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

The Bottom Line

All in all, I would say Restoration is Faithsedge's, Giancarlo Floridia and friends, best and strongest album to date. It definitely puts the heavy metal into the hard rock groove. Recommended.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Atlantic: Another World Album Review

We have to dig deep, three decades, to find the origins of Atlantic, a project of songwriter, musician, and producer Simon Harrison (then Stranger, Wisht). Initially thought to be a one-off recording, Harrison ... [ Read More ]