Viana is a project band built around Italian guitarist Stefano Viana. This is his second outing and this time American singer Bryan Cole is at the mic. What sets this collection apart from the first outing is the quality of songwriting, the presence of big, catchy choruses, and the world class melodic rock vocals of Bryan Cole. Bryan was recently involved with a band called Steel City and has a great solo album, Sands of Time. Both of those efforts showed great promise. Viana is a vehicle that showcases Bryan's amazing range and great singer instincts.
The opening track, "Forever Free" sounds like a song Meat Loaf could have sung. Cole's voice soars and the production even recalls Jim Steinman at his best. The last note Bryan sings will send chills down your back as he really captures the spirit of this ode to freedom. This album benefits from smart, uncluttered production from Alessandro Del Vecchio along with Cole and Terry Brock who are responsible for how the vocals sound.
"In The Name of Love" is an instantly catchy song with a big chorus that adds some Bon Jovi to that Meat Loaf. These are complete musical ideas with hit single potential for radio. "Heart of Stone" features John Roth (Starship) on guitar. Cole's gutsy delivery is augmented by a building hook that bubbles under and then bursts forth on the chorus. The vocal arrangements have a mid-western hair metal mentality without being cheesy or pedantic. "We Can't Choose" continues along on the big memorable chorus train.
Each song is radio ready and if we lived in a time when music like this was still in vogue, this would be a very deep bench of songs indeed. "Who Do You Think You Are" straddles the edges of west coast AOR and then finds it's rock radio mojo. Pick any song and you'll find a hook large enough to settle into your consciousness. Bryan Cole has a degree of confidence and swagger that reminds me of the late great Jimi Jamison. Are you listening Frankie Sullivan?
"Live Free of Die" lyrically dovetails with the theme of the record. Each song is a tale of some kind of liberation. The melody echoes a recent song by Johnny Gioeli called "Drive". "Do You Remember" is a powerful duet with veteran Terry Brock. If you were looking for a killer power ballad, this is it. John Roth lays down a classy guitar solo on this tear jerker. "Friday Night" will take you back to roller rink life in the late 1980's. The melody is familiar and new at the same time. I could swear I've heard it before or at least parts of it. "I Wanna Tell You" has a great opening guitar riff which settles into some nice rhythmic playing along with Bryan Cole's big vocals. Another hit single in the making. The album closes with "We Will Never Say Goodbye", a great mid-tempo rocker that thematically looks to the past and the future at the same time. It's a fine way to close out this impressive roster of songs.
For melodic rock fans, very few albums compete at this level. There are typically drawbacks or quirks that might make the listening experience trigger A.D.D. or conjure up musical deja-vu. Viana reaches up to the sky to find new musical landscapes that feel like an old well traveled road. Bryan Cole continues his evolution as a singer. And Stefano Viana has found a team of stellar musicians who have made the name Viana synonymous with melodic rock greatness. This album is a great way to start off the new year. A solid 5 out of 5 stars.
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