Hardline - Double Eclipse (1992) [2010, Japan SHM-CD, UICY-94514]

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Hardline - Double Eclipse (1992) [2010, Japan SHM-CD, UICY-94514]

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The debut album from Hardline, featuring ex-Journey axe-man Neal Schon, has proved over time to be a melodic rock masterpiece. The group had minor radio success with the unbelievably catchy rockers "Takin' Me Down" and "Hot Cherie" (a revamped version of Streetheart's song). Throw into the mix similar songs such as "Dr. Love", "I'll Be There", "Bad Taste", the amazing ballad "Change Of Heart" and a pretty instrumental named "31-91" and you have the ground work for one awesome album.
The band was full of great musicians that were able to achieve a killer sound, not that far removed from bands such as XYZ. Unfortunately, the timing was wrong; if this had come out three to four years earlier it would have been huge. Double Eclipse is a perfect example of what great melodic metal is, and easily receives two thumbs up!

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Hardline - Double Eclipse (1992) [2010, Japan SHM-CD, UICY-94514]

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Hardline:

Hardline was formed in the early 1990s by brothers and former Brunette band mates, Johnny and Joey Gioeli. They brought in former Bad English members Neal Schon (lead guitar, best known for his work in Journey), Deen Castronovo on drums and ex-Doro and David Lee Roth bassist Todd Jensen. Hardline was a powerful, hard rockin' band known for their great hooks and melodies, killer guitar riffs, a tremendous stage presence… and for their front man Johnny Gioeli, whose soaring and often edgy vocals helped make their debut album Double Eclipse a classic of the melodic rock era. If you went to a Hardline show, you were thoroughly rocked, not to mention carried away by the vocals and lyrics in ballads like "Can't Find My Way" and "In The Hands Of Time." The group was touring with bands like Van Halen and Mr. Big even before their first album release.
The 1992 debut Double Eclipse, with its over-the top production, guitar driven tracks and multi-part harmonies was unique in having both a melodic quality combined with a harder rock sound. The first singles were the songs "Takin' Me Down" and "Hot Cherie." While never popular in the mainstream, various radio stations worldwide started to play it and Hardline's fan base started to grow. They released a video to MTV, but did not get much airplay because by that time grunge and alternative had already taken over and melodic rock was being pushed aside. Tension among band members, the record company and perhaps certain egos, got in the way of an immediate follow-up album, despite the band having written more than enough material. While Schon re-started his adventure with Journey in 1995 (again with Castronovo), Johnny stepped out of the music business, eventually to return as Axel Rudi Pell's singer on the 1988 album Oceans Of Time.
Years later the brothers were ready to give it another go with Hardline after the call of Frontiers Records, and began recording with an all new line-up that included Josh Ramos (of The Storm and Two Fires fame on guitar), bassist Chris Maloney, drummer Bob Rock and keyboardist Michael T. Ross (Angel, XYZ and Accomplice). Hardline II was released in 2002, and although their unique melodic quality remained, it definitely had a different feel in many respects. Most noticeable were the lyrical differences that lay in the darker emotions and troubles some of the songs reflected, especially in tracks like "Weight", "Paralyzed" and "Way It Is, Way It Goes." With mixed reactions to the album, the band returned on stage headlining the Gods Festival in Bradford, England in June 2002 before Johnny and Josh started to work on new songs in 2006.
Flash ahead a few years… with a renewed line-up now featuring Johnny Gioeli, Ramos, Ross, Jamie Brown on bass and Atma Anur on drums, Hardline roared back with their newest melodic rock masterpiece, Leaving The End Open. The album was a great mix of melodic hard rock and ballads, sealed with Gioeli's incredible vocals and the band's instrumental prowess.

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Hardline - Double Eclipse (1992) [2010, Japan SHM-CD, UICY-94514]

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Hardline - Double Eclipse (1992) [2010, Japan SHM-CD, UICY-94514]

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