Album review: VINCE DICOLA – Only Time Will Tell

VINCE DICOLA – Only Time Will Tell

Escape Music [Release date 11.06.21]

Vince DiCola is a musician / songwriter from Pennsylvania and relocated to LA in 1981 to advance his career. In the early to mid-eighties Vince was involved in some well-known film scores such as ‘Staying Aliv’, ‘Rocky IV’ and ‘The Transformers: The Movie’.

On ‘Only Time Will Tell’ Vince DiCola has gathered together songs from the past that have been co-written and feature artists such as Bobby Kimball (ex-Toto), Jason Scheff (Chicago), Steve Walsh (ex-Kansas), Stan Bush and Mark Boals (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen).

The real treat on here are the trio of songs featuring former Kansas vocalist Steve Walsh, who really sounds on top on ‘Broken Glass’ and the title track, both of which have a 90’s Kansas feel about the music too. Vince DiCola’s love of progressive rock comes through big time though on ‘Suffer The Children’. An eight minute epic that ebbs and flows nicely musically, topped off by another fine vocal performance by Steve Walsh. The big orchestral intro really sets the scene to this one.

Vince himself is no slouch in the vocal department either as the ballad ‘I’m Not in Love for Nothing’ proves. Again this is another clever mix of AOR with prog, especially on the keyboards arrangements. He also pops up on ‘Karla’, a catchy song recalling Toto and Three, the supergroup featuring Keith Emerson, Carl Palmer & Robert Berry.

‘Just Hanging On’ could have been lifted from a 80s movie soundtrack featuring a fine vocal from Ellis Hall. No real surprise that ‘Miracles’ sounds like a Chicago ballad as it features the band’s Jason Scheff on vocals.

Former Toto vocalist Bobby Kimball features on ‘Stay/Exit Wound’, of which the ‘Stay’ part is a soothing ballad suited to Kimball’s voice. ‘Exit Wound’ gives a chance for Vince DiCola to highlight his piano skills in a progtastic bit of playing.

An intriguing and highly enjoyable listen mixing AOR, cinematic pomp and prog rock to great effect. Plus as a bonus you have fine vocal performances from all of those involved. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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