WHITE WIDDOW / SERENADE (2011)

Last year, White Widdow with their debut album made a huge impact to the Melodic Rock world. It was a solid album full of great melodies, attitude, catchy songs and an 80's feeling all over the album. Nowadays, the Australians are back to offer us another excellent release of pure Melodic bliss! I have the feeling that this band has everything to become leader of the today's Melodic/AOR scene. Their debut was last year's winning release here in Heavy Paradise Top 2010 list and for sure "Serenade" will end up high too.

This new one continues from where the debut stopped. Big and catchy chorus lines, amazing guitar work from a very talented guitarist, passionate performances and some key lines to die for! It's really amazing how the boys achieve to combine perfectly the 80's Melodic/AOR scene with some harder edged stuff! The influences from Danger Danger, Def Leppard and some other big AOR acts of the past are obvious without loosing their own indentity. At this point I have to say that the album is mixed and mastered by Pelle Seather who is well-known in the melodic rock world as a the shouter of Grand Design.

The opener track, "Cry Wolf" is the perfect apettizer of what's coming next! A really cool way to start "Serenade" with a totally 80's Melodic tune. "Strangers In the Night" starts with some nice key lines a huge guitar riffing and has a such a memorable chorus line! "Do You Remember" has some Def Leppard influences, especially in the intro riff, while "Reckless Nights" is like it came out from a Danger Danger record! This track has a feel-good vibe and a huge chorus! "How Far I Run" is an AOR anthem! Impressive tune and my personal favourite from this release. "Serenade" is catchy and "Show Your Cards" is a keyboard heaven for the fans of keyboard-driven AOR! "Mistake" is a harder edged tune while "Patiently" is the one and only kinda of ballad. "Love Won't Wait" is a very rhythmic track and a perfect way to close this gem-album!

Overall this is a brilliant album! It has everything that a Melodic Rock fan can ask. Huge harmonies, catchy songs that make you whisper them for days, amazing guitar riffs and solos plus a very good production and there you have one of this year's highlights! I don't know about you but as it concerns me I'm really impressed of White Widdow music. The guys last year released a great album and this year with "Serenade" releasing a classic Melodic Rock album!Well done!

HeavyParadise's Rating : 10/10

TRACK LIST : 01 - Cry Wolf, 02 - Strangers In The Night, 03 - Do You Remember, 04 - Reckless Night, 05 - How Far I Run, 06 - Serenade, 07 - Show Your Cards, 08 - Mistake, 09 - Patiently, 10 - Love Won't Wait