• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

May 2025

• The Flower Kings: Love
• Maestrick : Espresso Della Vita: Lunare

March 2025

• W.E.T.: Apex
• Alliance: Before Our Eyes
• Ginevra: Beyond Tomorrow
• Phil X & The Drills:
  Pow! Right In The Kisser
• IQ: Dominion
• Heart Line: Falling Heaven
• Gotthard: Stereo Crush
• Defender: Dying To Live
• Streetlight: Night Vision

February 2025

• Robin McAuley: Soulbound
• Perfect Plan: Heart Of A Lion
• Craig Brooks: Desolation Freeway
• Mantric Momentum: Alienized
• Pattern-Seeking Animals: Friend Of All Creatures
• Crazy Lixx: Thrill Of The Bite
• Ginger Evil: The Way It Burns
• Dream Theater: Parasomnia
• Tyran: Tyran's Oath
• Saber: Lost In Flames

January 2025

• Wildness: Avenger
• The Ferrymen: Iron Will
• Labyrinth: In The Vanishing Echoes Of Goodbye
• Bonfire: Higher Ground
• The Big Deal: Electrified
• Landfall: Wide Open Sky

December 2024

• After Lapse: Pathways
• Illusion Force: Halfana
• Powell-Payne: Voilá

November 2024

• Sunstorm: Restless Fight
• Storace: Crossfire
• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
• Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
• Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
• Lonerider: Down In The Dust
• Seventh Crystal: Entity
• Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
• Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
• Impellitteri: War Machine
• Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter

[ More Music Reviews ]

James Christian: Craving

AOR Melodic Rock

4.0/5.0

Website Facebook
Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 04.04.2018

As is his custom, James Christian sometimes takes a break from his long serving band House Of Lords to drop a solo album. The singer, songwriter, producer, and all around music veteran returns with his fourth studio album, Craving. Recorded in his own Florida studio, the recording features contributions from other veterans of the melodic rock scene including Tommy Denander, Chris Pelcer, Jimi Bell, Clif Magness, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Richard Hymas, Charlie Mason, and Jeff Kent.

James Christian

As you would expect, Christian delivers another pleasing album of AOR melodic rock, something on the softer side of his work with House Of Lords. Even with expectations in hand, the album arrives with some variety in the songs. Not wanting to give everything away, I'll hit some highlights. Starting the album, both Heaven Is A Place In Hell and Wild Boys are straight up rockers, catchy with some good groove.

After this, Christian shifts into lighter AOR gear with Craving, Jesus Wept, and World Of Possibility where you'll more acoustic guitar, piano, and better synth parts. Sidewinder brings back some harder rock with strong riffs, a big beat, and a feisty guitar solo. The following I Won't Cry straddles the line between rocker and AOR anthem, yet with a notable blues groove. Perhaps my favorite song here, Black Wasn't Black turns more upon traditional melodic hard rock with it's brisk riffs, slick pacing, undeniable melody and groove, and catchy chorus. Christian could have saved the song for the next House Of Lords album. But no, enjoy it here. Additionally, throughout, but not necessarily in every song, you'll hear some fine guitar solos. As suggested earlier, Craving finds James Christian in fine musical form, offering another satisfying album of AOR melodic rock. Easily 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.

Craving finds James Christian in fine musical form, offering another satisfying album of AOR melodic rock. Easily recommended.

Alphabetical Index

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 ]