Saints Trade: Robbed In Paradise

With Danger Zone's Roberto Priori handling all the production duties and guitars on a song, Perfect View's Pier Mazzini providing keyboards across the whole of the Robbed In Paradise album and melodic rock royalty, in the shape of Tommy Denander, also involved, the only question is whether Italy's Saints Trade can live up to their guest list. In short the answer is yes, and remarkably well at that. If the names on the cameo-role strike a chord with you, then you'll know that Saints Trade are operating slap bang in the middle of melodic rock territory, combining the keyboard led Euro sound to the more guitar oriented US scene and while the basis is more retro than cutting edge, Priori has worked hard on a production which ensures things don't sound particularly out dated.

Santa Libra leads from the front, a pleasantly accented vocal sitting proudly at the centre of the ST sound, as Claus (surname not required...) and Mazzini trade licks and melody lines off each other. "To The Light" kicks things off as they mean to go on, a soaring vocal giving way to a knowing laugh as a full force chug of guitars roars into view. "Feel The Fire" finds the riff taking a slight back step to allow a dancing keyboard pattern to set the scene while the beat pounds, however in both songs the common denominator is a catchy as hell chorus. Things do tend to walk the thin line between good fun and out and out cheese and when a set of clunky spoken word sections appear in the otherwise excellent "California", it's hard not to let out a tired groan in the same way the song does. However with "Allied" taking an almost Eurovision like rock framework and weaving a more believable streak through it, "Like A Woman" surprising with just how much infectious energy it possesses and Denander raising "Inside" a further notch or two, the absolutely spot on good time party and pout outweighs the stand and watch as all your mates pull awkwardness.

As their first full length effort (an EP appeared in 2012) this album makes a seriously strong impression and hints that a truly special release may come from Saints Trade. Robbed In Paradise isn't quite that good but it sure ain't far away.

Track Listing
1. To The Light
2. Feel The Fire
3. Inside
4. Allied
5. Like A Woman
6. California
7. Dreams Running Wild
8. Siria (Dawn Breaks In)
9. Rock 'N' Roll Man
10. Into Your Eyes
11. The Game

Added: May 1st 2015
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Saints Trade online
Hits: 1965
Language: english

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