REVIEW : GIOELI-CASTRONOVO / Set the World on Fire (Frontiers Music s.r.l., July 2018)

Johnny Gioeli (Hardline, Axel Rudi Pell) is an extraordinary vocalist. Deen Castronovo (Hardline, Revolution Saints, The Dead Daises and Journey) is a top musician too. Together they played back in 1992 on the debut Hardline gem. Nowadays and after 25 later, they team up once again to offer us yet another top album. Together they "Set The World On Fire"!!!

The first song that kicks-off this debut is called "Set The World On Fire" and it's about a huge and in-your-face rocker that leaves you breathless!! Next, "Through", we have a more straight forward rocker that reminds a bit of Revolution Saints works. Great melodies, great vocal duties (I just love Castronovo's voice), great arrangements and overall this is a great song, period!

The bluesier and moodier "Who I Am" comes up next and what we have here is yet another highlight. Mario Percudani is responsible here for the guitars and believe me he's doin' a fantastic job! His solos here are full of emotions and together with these excellent musicians he rockets this track to heaven. "Fall Like An Angel" and the ballad "It's All About You" are both very good songs while in "Need You Now" we are dealing with one of the album's top moments. Modern with a fantastic rhythm and a chorus to sing-a-long this is pure magic. 

I love the next track  which is called "Ride Of Your Life". This one reminds me a little of Journey, a little of Night Ranger (especially in the chorus) and, when it comes to the chorus, it explodes into a melodic rock beast!!! Totally love it!!!! The emotional "Mother" (with its fantastic guitar work), the pop-ish "Walk With Me" and the edgier "Run For Your Life" are all three great samples of this solid debut. With "Remember Me" the guys travel us back in time and offer a very Hardline-esque tune that includes edgier guitars, powerful vocals and a the necessary up-lifting chorus line! This album closes with an acoustic song, "Let Me Out", which I like it a lot.   

Top musicians create top and quality music, period!! Gioeli and Castronovo in my humble opinion are two of the top vocalists out there, no doubt 'bout that. Together with Mario Percudani, Alessandro Del Vecchio and Nik Mazzucconi achieve to create an overall top melodic rock release!!! If you are a fan of bands such as Hardline, Journey, Revolution Saints and Night Ranger or you just love quality AOR stuff, then look no further. 

Rating : 9,5/10