New Music Review : Michael Palace - One 4 The Road : CD Album Music Review : Dangerdog Music Reviews : Craig Hartranft

September 2024

Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
Eclipse: Megalomanium II
SteelCity: Reverence
Hydra: ReHydrated
Heartwind: III
Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
Find Me: Nightbound
The Nail: The Nail
Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
Stryper: When We Were Kings
Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
Paralydium: Universe Calls
Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

July 2024

Ironflame: Kingdom Torn Asunder
Spektra: Hypnotized
(Michael) Palace: Reckless Heart
Mr. Big: Ten
Dark Mile: Dark Mile

June 2024

Kaipa: Sommargryningsljus
Sunbomb: Light Up The Sky
Seven Spires: A Fortress Called Home
Atlantic: Another World
Xeneris: Eternal Rising
New Horizon: Conquerors
Issa: Another World

May 2024

Rhapsody Of Fire: Challenge The Wind
Cloven Hoof: Heathen Cross
Perseus: Into The Silence
Yes: Talk (1994/2024) Reissue
Marty Friedman: Drama
Demon: Invincible
The Treatment: Wake Up The Neighbourhood
The Tangent: To Follow Polaris
Riot V: Mean Streets
Anette Olzon: Rapture
FM: Old Habits Die Hard

[ More Music Reviews ]

Michael Palace: One 4 The Road

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

4.5/5.0

Facebook Instagram
Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.13.2022 | Released: 15.07.2022

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Michael Palace rose to prominence as a songwriter and guitarist for First Signal, Find Me, Kent Hilli, and Houston, among others, all within the Frontiers Music label stable. But the talented fellow was also given opportunity and latitude to explore his solitary musical pursuits. With three solo albums under his belt, Palace returns with One 4 The Road wherein, literally, he handles all aspects of the project, from instruments to production to emptying the waste baskets and scrubbing the toilets. Versatility is the word.

Michael Palace

As with past solo efforts, Palace unabashedly transforms into an classic Eighties melodic hard rocker. The emphasis upon melodic, hard, and rock are self-evident. Between the brisk riffage, grand rhythm section, and ripping bombastic guitar solos these songs, well, effing rock. I wasn't sure which song element impressed most. Mostly, it was two-fold: the strong baselines that propel the rhythm section and Palace's outstanding guitar chops. Honestly, I think Michael Palace my simply enjoy doing solo albums because he wants advance his terrific guitar work. Fans of the same will appreciate his fret indulgence. Yet, moreover, these songs are wrapped up in the best of AOR accessibility: song melody, vocal harmony, and fashionably catchy refrains. And Palace is also a natural melodic vocalist to boot. If you're a Michael Palace, all this combines into a perfect storm of classic AOR melodic hard rock. But I said that from the start.

Summarizing some song highlights then. Straight up bold rockers come with Money Can Kill, Fifteen Minutes, and World Gone Mad. Perhaps heavy, yet turning on more AOR groove are Living The Life or Loneliest Night, which has a fantastic vocal arrangement. If there's a ballad it comes with The Drive. But, after a listen or two, I kept thinking this song could be modern country rock ballad, just add some pedal steel guitar and/or some Keith Urban style guitar work. Or maybe Palace should start writing tune for Nashville. With his talent, he could do it.

All in all, with One 4 The Road multi-talented songwriter Michael Palace does not disappoint. This is classic AOR melodic hard rock in its finest contemporary form. Easily recommended.

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.