Long Shadows Dawn: Isle of Wrath

Long Shadows Dawn is the latest project put together by Frontiers records, in this case pairing journeyman vocalist Doogie White (currently of Alcatrazz, previously in a latter-day version of Rainbow, plus Cornerstone, Michael Schenker, Yngwie Malmsteen and countless others) and guitarist Emil Norberg of Swedish power metallers Persuader. The idea was apparently to write and record songs in the vein of eighties Rainbow and other hard rock bands of a similar ilk, and I guess you could say that has been accomplished to an extent; Norberg’s guitar work certainly owes more than a bit to Ritchie Blackmore in his pomp, and White has the vocal chops, at least in theory. The problem lies with the rather lackluster material, the majority of which are up-tempo, backed by a lifeless (and unnamed) rhythm section and, short of stand-out hooks, each song tends to bleed in to another. In addition, White’s vocals are a little rough for an artist of his calibre, as if these are his first run-throughs of the material.

Overall, in small bursts this is a pleasant enough listen whilst it is playing, and may well scratch an itch for anyone seeking out an album of this style, but I found listening to the 50-plus minutes in one sitting hard work, and the lack of standout tunes makes it something I’m unlikely to revisit in future.

Tracklist:
1. Deal With The Preacher
2. Raging Silence
3. On Wings Of Angels
4. Star Rider
5. Hell Has No Fury
6. Master Of Illusion
7. Hallelujah Brother
8. Steeltown
9. Never Wrote A Love Song
10. Where Will You Run To 11. We Don't Shoot Our Wounded

Added: October 12th 2021
Reviewer: Tom De Val
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 731
Language: english

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