What began as a one-off studio project featuring Kansas vocalist Steve Walsh and Italian multi-instrumentalist Daniele Liverani has morphed into a Def Leppard, Journey and Pink Cream 69 hybrid that will make its live debut in Europe this year. Walsh is long gone, but PC 69 bassist and in-demand producer Dennis Ward has taken over vocal duties. His voice sports a rough, slightly nasal edge that makes it perfect for bridging AOR, melodic hard rock and lite sleaze – a smoother Joe Elliott, if you will. Many of the catchy songs on The Greatest Wonder, Khymera's third release, were penned by Tom and James Martin (of House of Lords and Ted Poley fame), and Liverani's production shines. Highlights include the bouncy, feel-good "Beautiful Life" and the Leppard-like mid-tempo rocker "Since You Went Away." The ballad "If I Can't Be" gets a little too fluffy, and many lyrics lack originality and fall flat ("Don't know where I'm going/But I sure know where I've been," from "Love Will Find You"), but old-school enthusiasts will no doubt still be charmed.
Track Listing:
1) Ablaze (Intro)
2) Beautiful Life
3) Borderline
4) Burn Out
5) Since You Went Away
6) Love Has Been and Gone
7) No Sacrifice
8) The Greatest Wonder
9) Fight For Yesterday
10) If I Can't Be
11) Love Will Find You
12) Stay Forever
13) The Other Side