Album review: DRIVE, SHE SAID – Pedal To The Metal

Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Release date 15.04.16]

Mark Mangold and Al Fritsch appeared under the Touch banner at the 2014 Firefest and this sparked them creating new music, hence now we have the first new Drive, She Said (DSS) album since 2003′s storming ‘Real Life’.

Joining Mangold and Fritsch are a number of guests including Tommy Denander, Kenny Aronoff, Frontiers ‘go to man’ Alessandro Del Vecchio, along with a host of name backing vocalists including Goran Edman, Chandler Mogel (Radio Exile), Ted Poley and Randy Jackson.

The album opens with two rockers, ‘Touch’ which recalls Deep Purple in the keys and guitar riffs and the title track which does what it says on the tin, namely seeing the band rock out.

What I love about this band is they love their keyboards and harmony vocals, and when they add a few they think, let’s do a Queen and add more! Pomp it up indeed. In fact this is a much rockier affair overall than ‘Real Life’, as ‘Writing On The Wall’ is a storming rocker and highlights the vocal talents of Al Fritsch. The song features some lovely OTT harmony backing vocals too and a few tasty Hammond runs and solo.

There are some seriously pomp rock moments on here, like the intro to ‘Rain Of Fire’ – one for lovers of Guiffria. They still do a ballad as it wouldn’t be DSS album without one. ‘In Your Arms’ starts with a gentle keyboard and guitar, overlaid by Fritsch and then he is joined by Fiona. This pairing works really well and good to see Fiona continuing her musical comeback.

‘I’m The Nyte’ may throw a few on first listen as it has a more dance beat/pop sound in the drums and keys, plus another guest vocal in 80′s electro pop fan and singer Kayvon Zand (I think Zand has some connection production wise with Mark Mangold).

So good to have this band back with new music. There aren’t many bands who still produce pomp/AOR albums and Drive, She Said are still one of the best. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)