Frontiers [Release date : 17.01.25]
Third album from Brazilian melodic hard rock band, Landfall, founded by Felipe Souzza and Marcelo Gelbcke in 2014, and fronted nowadays by noted vocalist, Gui Oliver.
It’s unquestionably an album of two halves.
The band’s melodic craftmanship shows through clearly on the first. Maybe it’s the subject matter.
Three tracks hold the key. The quasi religious ‘Tree Of Life’ and its positive, optimistic lyrics, powers its way into view as the album opens up.
There are the promised echoes of Steve Perry to Oliver’s vocals, but not so much as to distract us.
‘SOS’ is an adrenaline rush of a rock song, a prayer dressed in rock clothing. There’s a religious intensity to Oliver’s vocal delivery now, carrying a weight of emotion here without faltering for a moment.
Then on ‘When The Curtain Falls’ – musically, a callback to the eighties – they turn a poignant, life-after-death lyric into a serious piece of introspection, cynical yet hopeful.
Both spin on Gelbcke’s eloquent, and often forceful guitar figures, underpinning some sinuous melodies.
Powerful songs, album standouts.
These spiritual themes give way to the more prosaic topics of love and affection in the second half of the album.
‘Higher than the Moon’ sparkles and shines thanks to some cool axework. Oliver’s reined back vocals make a difference.
When they don’t shovel too much clutter into an arrangement (as they are inclined to do), it really pays off. Gelbcke’s neat guitar sounds combine with a sturdy piano motif to create the glue that holds the balladic ‘A Letter To You’ together, with Oliver moving – to some extent at least – into the background.
It’s another step forward for Landfall. A seasoned hand in the songwriting and a more accomplished hand in the production could move this band on by several notches. ***1/2
Review by Brian McGowan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 19 January
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 15 December 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 17 December 2024 and is Part 1 of Pete’s best of the year
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 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)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
