Jump to content

Heartbanger - Through The Dark


Stefan

Recommended Posts

logo.jpg

 

Review from melodic-hardrock.com:

Heartbanger is a musical project led by the musician/guitarist/songwriter Xavi Méndez. “Through The Dark” is the first album of this new melodic adventure and to consolidate it, Xavi has been accompanied by some friends and popular names of the national and international AOR scene. The debut includes collaborations from people like Tony Mills (SHY, TNT), Gabrielle De Val (The Val), Manu Esteve (Hardreams), Alberto Fernandez (Tokio) among many others…

The Heartbanger stylistic line is the classic 80s AOR (Survivor, Journey, Strangeways, Loverboy, FM, Foreigner and the like) with great presence of keyboards, great vocal harmonies and catchy choruses. It even offers some melodic metal on the only song on Spanish “Tierras De La Libertad” (featuring Angel Rubin on lead vocals).

This music takes you back to the 80s when songwriting concepts were breaking new ground. The material is in a straightforward rock musical direction with tight musicianship and good sound quality. The keyboard driven aor “The Last Chance Night” gets big credit for experimenting with non-conventional song structure. That keyboard riff is so awesome! And then combine it with all the other great instruments, and Manu Esteve’s perfect singing, and you have a true classic. The haunting keys on “You Came On Time” among the voice of Gabrielle De Val combine into a perfect melodious tune while Val’s voice is so awesome that reminds Leigh Matty’s voice of Romeo’s Daughter. Tony Mills simply kick ass on “Through The Dark” a smooth song that you can tap your feet mixed with intensity from Xavi’s edgy guitar. Manu deliver some strokes with his vocal abilities in “In Heaven” combine perfectly with the harmony guitar riffs, the heavenly keys and the layered vocals into an amazing aor anthem.

A very interesting debut album that appeal for fans of the 80s melodic rock sound, where Xavi Méndez givin’ heart and soul to deliver us this brilliant album which contains impressive guitar work, powerful vocal performances and a tight musicianship, while the massive use of keyboards enriches the sound all over.

Band Members
Xavi Mendez – Guitars
Alberto Fernandez – Keyboards
Paco Munoz – Drums
Luis Alvarez – Bass
Tony Mills – Vocals
Manu Esteve – Vocals
Gabrielle De Val – Vocals
Angel Rubin – Vocals
Ricard Flores – Bass
Marc Llado – Bass

 

FB

 

HEARTBANGER_THROUGH_THE_DARK.jpg

Tracks
01. Intro
02. The Last Chance Night
03. You Came on Time
04. Through the Dark
05. Always Remembered
06. The Only Thing
07. Tierras de la Libertad
08. In Heaven
09. Night Drive (Bonus Track)

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...
  • 1 year later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • 2024 HH Donation Drive

    Please support Heavy Harmonies! The donations goal is the out-of-pocket expenses to run the main site and this board for calendar year 2024.



    11% of donation goal reached.
    Donate Sidebar by DevFuse
  • Posts

    • Added Framing the Red over on the main site recently: Framing the Red discography reference list of music CDs. Heavy Harmonies Their website: Framing The Red Their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/framingtheredband Their YouTube channel: (23) Framing the Red Official Page - YouTube They have four releases, and all are quite good in my opinion. If I had to describe them, I'd say this is what Gunshine would sound like if they went in a more southern rock direction.  Here are some of my favorite tracks... Crossroads   Whiskey & Weed   Holy Water   Mississippi Hippie   Heroes   Bonnie & Clyde   Rockin' Into the Night (38 Special cover)   "Crossroads" and "Heroes" are probably my two faves.  *I will give a word of warning:  if you decide to purchase any of their discs, they are barebones releases with just the CD in a cardboard slipcase. I enjoy the music enough that that's not an issue for me though.  @lettard @KarpetRydOFunk @tts42572 @AlphaMale @Dead Planet @Mr.AOR @tobi is an animal I think all of you gentlemen should give these guys a listen and see what you think. 
    • H.E.A.T - 1000 Miles Vega - Hands In The Air The Defiants - Stay Issa - River of Love I'm at work right now so that's all I know off the top of my head but I'll look through my library for more when I get a chance.
    • Maybe anything by the Darkness
    • Wig wam - hard to be a rock n roller
    • Saw these guys first time a couple of years ago, when they were 16-17 years old, they are absolutely awesome. They have been touring for a few years now, performing their own songs, yet haven't released anything, until now. I have tickets to see them this saturday, opening for Mercenary. First single and video:  
    • I want to compile quite an extensive playlist of hard rock songs that has a key change in the end. Why? Cause I think it sounds awesome Some well known exambles are: Bon Jovi - Living On a Prayer Wig Wam - In My Dreams Danger Danger - Don't Blame it on Love H.E.A.T - Beg Beg Beg
    • My Japan copy showed up today. I was critical of the Part I album as that one just did very little for me.  Basically, I just didn't think the songs were all that catchy and/or memorable.  I played that album a handful of times trying to get into it and gave up rather quickly which was disappointing as I loved Wired.  Maybe I just had too high of expectations or something.  I know many liked that album but for me at least, that Megalomanium I album would be ranked toward the bottom of their discography. Well, after hearing this new one, I'm feeling the opposite....Here I feel like they nailed it and I'm digging this one after the first listen.  I basically couldn't wait to start it over and listen again. The first 5 songs just come out guns a blazing with catchy, hook filled songs.  Yeah, we've heard 4 of those songs as singles but I almost purposely haven't listened to those songs much so they'd still sound fresh when the album dropped.  Then the one song we hadn't heard, All I Want, is just another upbeat, catchy tune. The 2nd half though is where things probably get more interesting.  Songs like Dive Into You and To Say Goodbye are the kinds of varied balladish/mid-tempo type songs I've been wanting Eclipse to mix things up with and there's 2 of those songs here, both very well done IMO.  Then there's a couple heavier tunes like Divide & Conquer and One In A Million that sound like stuff that could've been on Bleed & Scream.  And then a couple other melodic rockers with Until the War is Over and Pieces. I also feel like this has some of the better lyrics that Eclipse has had in awhile.  I think a lot of their material recently has been just been sort of lighter subject matter, 3 minute "simplistic" romps.  I felt Part I had a lot of that which kind of contributed to it being less interesting.  Here though, it seems like some of these songs get a bit deeper and can feel more emotion in songs like Still My Hero, Dive Into You and To Say Goodbye for example.   Anyways, where Part I is among my least favorite Eclipse albums, I'd say my early impression of Part II is that it'll be among my favorite Eclipse albums. 
    • New song 'Unbreakable'.    
    • Solid hard rock album. Nothing really stood out to me, but it’s solid. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.