Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: ALL 41
Label: Frontiers Records
Release: 2017
Running time: 49:35
Rating: 3/5
ALL 41 is a new super rock outfit put together by Frontiers Records, gathering four excellent, well-established musicians under one roof. They are: vocalist Terry Brock (Giant, Strangeways), bassist and vocalist Robert Berry (Three, Alliance), guitarist Gary Pihl (Boston, Sammy Hagar, Alliance) and drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr Big).
“World’s Best Hope” is this quintet’s studio debut, a textbook melodic rock record that draws heavily on the look and feel of the AOR legacy of the eighties. The album doesn’t really bring anything you haven’t already heard or that hasn’t already been tried and tested in the melodic rock world. In fact, the two main songwriters, the central figures responsible for the final sound and arrangements and for bringing in the core ideas, are two old allies from Alliance! That’s Gary Pihl and Robert Berry. If you know the excellent third and still last album from the Alliance project, »Road to Heaven«, released way back in 2008, you know this is a partnership that delivers top-notch musical quality.
»World’s Best Hope« is an album that came about through the intervention of Frontiers Records and their A&R people. So All 41 is really an artificial creation, and the album was made »to order«. Which raises the question of whether the material on this debut will ever come to life on concert stages any time soon. Especially considering the distances between the places where the individual members live, not to mention the priorities of their other obligations, which tie them to the professional music business.
On »World’s Best Hope« everything is in its place. Right where it should be. No need to point out that Berry and Pihl are seasoned, skilled songwriters with enormous mileage and experience. So it’s hard to find any songwriting misfires that would pull this album away from the essence of every product written to the melodic rock and AOR recipe. We’re talking about highly atmospheric pomp, building to a mood-driven crescendo in choruses that hit you right away, »on the first listen«. The sound building blocks are nicely balanced, Brock shines with his vocal range, and it’s honestly sad that such an exceptional singer remains so »underused« in the melodic rock »carvings« of the new millennium. Synth blankets in tasteful dialogue with gently accented guitar phrasing, inventive old-school guitar solos, a lead vocal backed by extra vocal harmonies. A »spiffed-up« album, both in songwriting and in sound. As it should be. From head to toe.
But we’ve heard it all before. Even though the production is pleasantly organic, what really stands out is the cautious songwriting, which far too obviously »sells« the old tricks. Sure, this so-called artificially assembled formation, All 41, ignites, and anyone who doesn’t know the whole roster of melodic rock acts and their output from the last two decades will be absolutely delighted with this release. Even more. Thrilled. But those of you who follow the genre regularly will quickly get bored of it and would rather listen to the albums of the home bands these quartet members otherwise belong to. So, think carefully before investing in »World’s Best Hope«. Simply put, you can’t feel that real chemistry, that magic. Something more is missing. Maybe the culprit is simply how the band came together. And that, of course, was staged by the label.
ALL 41 – After the Rain (official video):
Line-up
Terry Brock – vocals
Robert Berry – bass guitar, backing vocals
Gary Pihl – guitar
Matt Starr – drums
Production
Alessandro Del Vecchio
Track List
1. After The Rain
2. Cyanide
3. Down Life’s Page
4. Mother Don’t Cry
5. Show Me The Way
6. Walk Alone
7. Don’t Surrender (To Love)
8. Hero In Your Life
9. Never Back Down Again
10. Who Knows
11. The World’s Best Hope
