CORNERSTONE / SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA (2011)

CORNERSTONE is a Rock band that hails from Austria. The band consists of  Patricia Hillinger on lead vocals), Michael Wachelhofer on bass and keyboards, Steve Wachelhofer on guitar, and Mike Pawlowitsch on drums and percussions. They released their debut album, "Head Over Heels", in 2008, and the band did numerous tours of Europe and America. They, also, participated in the UK based Z Rock Festival in 2009. Some of the songs from “Head Over Heels” were included in the motion-picture soundtrack for the film „Little Alien,“ which was shown in cinema and will be on television in the near future. Cornerstone won the „Next Big Thing Contest,“ sponsored by Alternative Addiction, in March 2008 and had a No. 1 hit on Chungaradio Statesides.

The band's sound is pure 80's blended Rock stuff with a, sometimes, harder edged 'modern' Rock. "Stay" which opens the album has a really nice riffing, a solid rhythm and Patricia Hillinger's passionate vocal lines. "Rise And Shine" has a 'modern' vibe in it but it's an overall good track. "Breathing For You" is simple brilliant. It's a mellower tune with a nice melody and reminds me a bit the 80's Pop-Rock band's. A superb track. "Right Or Wrong" continues in the mid-tempo rhythm. Another excellent sample from "Somewhere In America". Patricia Hillinger's really shines on this one! In "Like A Stranger" the tempo gets harder this time. A nice track with a solid hook and chorus line. "Follow You, Follow Me" is a very good 'modern' rock track while "Being Unaware" is my personal favourite from this album. A killer rock song and the perfect track to drive in an open high-way with the volume on 10. "Oblivious" is an average track, "High And Low" has a really nice chorus and an up-tempo rhythm and "Strut" is one of the album's highlights!

Overall, this is one of this year's pleasant surprises! It's a rock album full of great tracks! Nice melodies, great vocal lines a tight musicianship and a solid production. I would recommend this album to those who like 80's Pop-Rock music with a harder edge.

HeavyParadise's Rating : 8/10

TRACK LIST : 01. STAY,02. RISE AND SHINE,03. BREATHING FOR YOU,04. RIGHT OR WRONG,05. LIKE A STRANGER,06. FOLLOW YOU, FOLLOW ME,07. BEING UNAWARE,08. OBLIVIOUS,09. HIGH AND LOW,10. STRUT