Power of Metal.dk Review

Houston
II
Rating
Style: Hard Rock/AOR
Release date: 2 September, 2013
Playing time: 45:23
 


The Swedish high-quality AOR project Houston is back with their long awaited follow-up album to their highly acclaimed debut release from 2010. Houston plays AOR/melodic rock in Journey, Boston and Survivor league. Hank Erix on vocals is an amazing vocalist and a given front man. His vocals are one of the biggest reasons that I find this band so interesting. Scandinavian AOR mixed with nice and soothing west-coast rock melodies. Sounds perhaps very strange and tame in harsh metal ears, but we who appreciate this genre with pure, high vocals and well written lyrics spiced up with outrageously fancy guitars will enjoy Houston's new album for a long time.

All that a great AOR record must have in its musical recipe is interwoven and when the production is in world class, there is not much left to be desired for. The album is of course full of melodic and golden rhythms, packed in a solid and flawless production.

If you are into the softer melodic hard rock corner, this is something to check out. Not a monster disc or a future classic album. Just a good album!
I especially like these songs: 'Glory', 'I'm Coming Home', '24 Hours', 'On the Radio' and 'Believe'.

This may be one of 2013's better AOR releases for far.

Houston:
Hank Erix - vocals
Ricky Delin - keys & backing vocals
Freddie Allen - drums
Guest musicans: Soufian Ma áouii - bass, Tommy Denander - guitars, Calle Hammer - guitars&keys, Jay Cutter - keyboard, and a line of backing vocal people...


Tracklist
01. Glory
02.
I'm Coming Home
03.
Return My Heart
04.
Talk To Me
05.
Back To The Summer Of Love
06.
24 Hours
07.
On The Radio
08.
Losing
09.
Just Friends
10.
Believe
Label: Livewire
Distribution: Cargo Records
Artwork rating: 70/100
Reviewed by: Patrik Skoglund
Date: 2 September, 2013
Website: myspace.com/houstontheband