Here we have the self-titled debut from the new Frontiers Records melodic rock project Raintimes, comprised of members of acts such as Charming Grace, Von Groove, Shining Line, and Wheels of Fire. Put together as somewhat of a tribute to the great '90s melodic rock act The Storm, Raintimes follows suit, an 11-track collection of soaring pop and hard driving guitar rock long on hooks and musical muscle. Michael Shotton has a voice not far removed from a young Joey Tempest of Europe, and he's just mesmerizing on powerful tunes "Make My Day" and "Forever Gone", backed by some killer riffs and blazing lead guitar solos. "Don't Ever Give Up" and "Together As Friends" have a metallic sheen to go along with the soaring hooks, but that's about as heavy as things get here, with "Swan", "I Need Tonight", "Empty Days" providing the pop/AOR stylings to much of the album, complete with tasty playing and emotional vocals.
If you like the work of The Storm, Bon Jovi, Lionville, W.E.T. and the like, Raintimes will be a band you will certainly want to add to your melodic rock playlist.
Michael Shotton – Lead & Backing Vocals
Iván González – Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Sven Larsson - Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Davide Barbieri - Keyboards & Backing Vocals
Andrea Gipponi - Bass & Fretless Bass
Pierpaolo Monti – Drums & Percussion
Track Listing
- Forever Gone
- Make My Day
- Don't Ever Give Up
- Swan
- I Need Tonight
- Raintimes
- Just A Little Bit More
- Empty Days
- Together As Friends
- Missing Piece
- I See The Light