WildeStarr (review by MMB)

WildeStarr

Beyond the Rain

label: Scarlet Records

release date: 8 December 2017

WildeStarr is high, elegant singing, and songs that hit all the buttons: the guitar melodies, the solos, the fast rockers, the midtempo tracks, and the result is music that should be a pleasant surprise to audiences seeking a band that rocks in the traditional heavy metal way, whether that means the glories of the classics of yesteryear or the modern sounds of the genre. The singing will be most interesting to those listeners that are looking for melodic vocals. There is no growling, there is only singing that is rather high, but that goes for the super high/air raid siren tones in some parts, too. The most interesting issue could be a personal one: the listener's individual reaction to this melodic singing that comes from the heritage of classic and traditional metal music (By the way, this is not the soprano/symphonic metal style of singing). On the other hand, the guitar work brings out the hooks and the solos, while the rhythms are true to the expectations of heavy rock: solid, friendly to the ear, and rocking.

Overall, the album maintains a good, smooth level of energy, and it transitions well from song to song, without going through abrupt changes in energy that could interrupt the general vibe. The album works as something to be heard from start to finish, and all the songs represent dedication, with the idea that there is a certain standard of quality, seriousness and skill that the devoted supporters of melodic and traditional heavy metal expect, and WildeStarr understands it, given their experience and years of making music, as you can see below.

If you would like more details about the personnel, read this official information.

OFFICIAL: WildeStarr is the combined talents of 3 of the most dynamic musicians in heavy metal today: Dave Starr (Vicious Rumors, Chastain) on all guitars & bass, London Wilde on vocals (who many regard as highly as Rob Halford, Dio, and Geoff Tate), and power house Josh Foster on drums. Through 3 studio albums, (‘Arrival’, 2010, ‘A Tell Tale Heart’, 2012, and now with ‘Beyond The Rain’, 2017) WildeStarr has established themselves as the masters of their craft with melodic and aggressive metal full of drama, and conveyed via a huge wall of sound. Husband and wife team Dave Starr and London Wilde have been friends for 30 years, and married for over 15 now. This makes their songwriting and chemistry very special and unique in the world of heavy metal. WildeStarr's new album ‘Beyond The Rain’ takes the listener on a harrowing ride and emotional roller coaster. Some might think its a concept album, but its actually much more than that. The songs are London Wilde's lyrical expression of pain, torment, hope, and love based on the real life tragic suicide of her brother Gary in 2012. Gary was a gifted musician who suffered the sad pitfalls of many others who pickup the guitar and dream of success in the music biz. After his death, Gary essentially became a not so silent 4th member of the band, and his presence and spirit was deeply felt throughout the songwriting and recording process. ‘Beyond The Rain’ contains 10 tracks of classic heavy metal in the vein of Judas Priest, Queensrÿche, and Dio, complete with Dave Starr's soaring guitar harmonies, pounding bass and drums, and out of this world vocal melodies and lyrics by London.

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