Album review: HARDLINE – Human Nature
Frontiers Records [Release date 04.10.16]
Former super-group Hardline return with their 5th studio album “Human Nature” following on from 2012’s “Danger Zone”.
Vocalist Johnny Gioeli and brother Joey formed Hardline on LA’s sunset strip back in 1991 and they found fame with debut album “Double Eclipse” partly, I’m sure, through the presence of the mighty Neal Schon. In took another 10 years before the follow up, the imaginatively named “II”, was released featuring The Storm guitarist Josh Ramos (a band also featuring former Journey members).
Joey left in 2003 leaving only Johnny to carry on. “Human Nature” features the aforementioned Johnny Gioeli and Josh Ramos together with Italian keyboard maestro Alessandro Del Vecchio, bassist Anna Portalupi and Primal Fear drummer Francesco Jovino.
“Human Nature” kicks off with the catchy Where Will We Go which highlights the quality of Johnny’s vocals. Nobody’s Fool follows with its classic, if a little dated, hard rock sound bringing mid 1980’s Whitesnake to mind.
Title track Human Nature is a superb power ballad which has echoes of Damn Yankee’s High Enough. Muddy Waters is, as you might expect, a bluesy rocker (a la recent Europe output) which improves with repeated listens.
Take You Home is the album’s solitary ballad with Johnny’s vocals only backed by a piano. Simple but effective. Where the North Wind Blows oozes quality even though it could be by any number of melodic rock bands.
Closer Fighting the Battle starts with some heavy riffing but leads onto a very non-descript first verse…but fortunately things then improve and the rest of the number cannot be faulted.
Production is crystal clear and the cover artwork is cool depicting the Earth in an environmental Yin and Yang nightmare scenario.
A quality release if a little generic in places…and Johnny’s vocals are as powerful as ever. ****
Review by Phil Berisford
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 6 October 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 8 October 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024
IZZY REIGN Spooky Scary Skeletons (FiXT)
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)
Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections