Release Date: May 14,  2010 Label: Avenue Of Allies Producer: Alessandro Del Vecchio   Style: AOR, Melodic Rock Related bands: W.E.T., Blanc Faces, Robin Beck, Last Autumn's Dream

[voto: 3.5]

Intro
Here's what happens when an AOR fan decides to realize his dream and involve various well-known international musicians for a personal project.

Best tracks
Highway Of Love, Amy, Strong Enough, Heat Of The Light, Can’t Stop The Rock

Notes
It starts with a bang the debut of Italian Pierpaolo "Zorro11" Monti’s project, "Highway of Love" is one of the best AOR songs of the last 2-3 years and has everything I demand from this genre: urgency, loud chorus, surrounding and leading keyboards; Erik Martensson on the microphone proves himself as one of the most beautiful voices of the Scandinavian scene (although I do not go crazy for its band Eclipse).
The album goes on this standard for a handful of tracks; "Amy," "Strong Enough", "Heat Of The Light" and "Can’t Stop The Rock" are great songs indeed, especially the one sung by Robin Beck, I believe it is one of her best performances since "Trouble Or Nothin'".
Then the quality of the compositions slightly decreases, although it maintains on decent standards.
The main defect of this album is the excessive prolixity, meaning both for the total playing time (about 75 minutes) and for the individual songs' length. To improve the fluency of the entire CD I would have removed a few instrumental intro and some lame songs like "Follow The Stars", "The Infinity On Us" or "Alone" (and I am saying this reluctantly because Bormann is one of my favourite singer).
Sure, if the first songs would have been the standard for  the whole album, we would have been at the sight of an AOR masterpiece, but I believe that being a debut is it more than good.
Maybe, Pierpaolo "Zorro11" Monti could direct his talent and passion in a better way, finding a stable band with whom he could start a new path.

Band

• Pierpaolo "Zorro11" Monti – drums & percussion
• Amos Monti – bass
• keyboards: Alessandro Del Vecchio
• guitars: Marco D'Andrea, Mario Percudani
• lead vocals: Erik Martensson, Harry Hess, Robbie LaBlanc, Robin Beck, Mikael Erlandsson, Michael Shotton, Michael Voss, Sue Willets, Bob Harris, Ulrich Carlsson, Carsten Schulz, Phil Vincent, Brunorock, Jack Meille, Graziano De Murtas, Michael Bormann
• guitars: Tank Palamara, Tommy Ermolli, Michael Voss, Vinny Burns, Tim Manford, Marko Pavic, Matt Filippini, Walter Caliaro

Tracklist

• 01. Highway Of Love (ft. Erik Martensson)   4:12
• 02. Amy (ft. Harry Hess)   4:31
• 03. Strong Enough (ft. Robbie LaBlanc)   5:18
• 04. Heaven's Paths  1:29
• 05. Heat Of The Light (ft. Robin Beck)   5:49
• 06. Can't Stop The Rock (ft. Mikael Erlandsson)   5:01
• 07. The Meaning Of My Lonely Words (ft. Michael Shotton)   4:39
• 08. The Infinity In Us (ft. Michael Voss)   5:45
• 09. Still In Your Heart (ft. Bob Harris & Sue Willets)   6:07
• 10. Homeless' Lullaby (ft. Urlich Carlsson & Carsten Schulz)   5:27
• 11. Follow The Stars (ft. Phil Vincent)   5:05
• 12. Unbreakable Wire (ft. Brunorock, Jack Meille & Graziano De Murtas)   4:32
• 13. Under Silent Walls pt. 1: Blossom   5:51
• 14. Under Silent Walls pt. 2: Alone (ft. Michael Bormann)   8:01
• 15. Under Silent Walls pt. 3: Death Of Cupid   2:21

Discography

• Shining Line (2010 Avenue Of Allies)

Suggested links

• Shining Line on myspace

Release Date: May 14,  2010 Label: Avenue Of Allies Producer: Alessandro Del Vecchio   Style: AOR, Melodic Rock Related bands: W.E.T., Blanc Faces, Robin Beck, Last Autumn's Dream

[voto: 3.5][EN]

Intro
Ecco cosa succede quando un appassionato di AOR decide di realizzare un sogno e coinvolgere diversi nomi noti della scena internazionale per un progetto personale.

Best tracks
Highway Of Love, Amy, Strong Enough, Heat Of The Light, Can't Stop The Rock

Notes
Parte con il botto questo debutto del progetto dell'italianissimo Pierpaolo "Zorro11" Monti, "Highway Of Love" è una delle più belle canzoni AOR degli ultimi 2-3 anni e possiede tutto ciò che esigo da questo genere: urgenza, cori da urlare a squarciagola, tappeto avvolgente di  tastiere; Erik Martensson al microfono si conferma una delle più belle voci del panorama scandinavo (anche se i suoi Eclipse non mi esaltano).
Il disco prosegue su questo livello per una manciata di tracce, infatti "Amy", "Strong Enough", "Heat Of The Light" e "Can't Stop The Rock" sono ottime canzoni, in particolare il  brano cantato da Robin Beck, lo ritengo una delle sue interpretazioni migliori dai tempi di "Trouble Or Nothin'".
Dopodiché il livello qualitativo delle composizioni cala leggermente, benché si mantenga su canoni decenti.
Il principale difetto di questo album è l'eccessiva prolissità, sia per quanto riguarda la durata complessiva (circa 75 minuti) che quella delle singole canzoni. Per aumentare la fluidità d'ascolto dell’intero CD avrei eliminato qualche intro strumentale di troppo e qualche canzone non proprio perfetta tipo "Follow The Stars", "The Infinity In Us" o "Alone" (e lo dico a malincuore visto che Bormann è una delle voci che amo).
Certo che se fosse stato tutto al livello delle prime canzoni ci saremmo trovati al cospetto di un capolavoro dell'AOR, ma penso che come debutto siamo già a livelli più che buoni.
Magari, trovare un gruppo in pianta stabile con cui iniziare un nuovo percorso può essere il modo migliore per incanalare il talento e la passione di Pierpaolo "Zorro11" Monti.

Band

• Pierpaolo "Zorro11" Monti – drums & percussion
• Amos Monti – bass
• keyboards: Alessandro Del Vecchio
• guitars: Marco D'Andrea, Mario Percudani
• lead vocals: Erik Martensson, Harry Hess, Robbie LaBlanc, Robin Beck, Mikael Erlandsson, Michael Shotton, Michael Voss, Sue Willets, Bob Harris, Ulrich Carlsson, Carsten Schulz, Phil Vincent, Brunorock, Jack Meille, Graziano De Murtas, Michael Bormann
• guitars: Tank Palamara, Tommy Ermolli, Michael Voss, Vinny Burns, Tim Manford, Marko Pavic, Matt Filippini, Walter Caliaro

Tracklist

• 01. Highway Of Love (ft. Erik Martensson)   4:12
• 02. Amy (ft. Harry Hess)   4:31
• 03. Strong Enough (ft. Robbie LaBlanc)   5:18
• 04. Heaven's Paths  1:29
• 05. Heat Of The Light (ft. Robin Beck)   5:49
• 06. Can't Stop The Rock (ft. Mikael Erlandsson)   5:01
• 07. The Meaning Of My Lonely Words (ft. Michael Shotton)   4:39
• 08. The Infinity In Us (ft. Michael Voss)   5:45
• 09. Still In Your Heart (ft. Bob Harris & Sue Willets)   6:07
• 10. Homeless' Lullaby (ft. Urlich Carlsson & Carsten Schulz)   5:27
• 11. Follow The Stars (ft. Phil Vincent)   5:05
• 12. Unbreakable Wire (ft. Brunorock, Jack Meille & Graziano De Murtas)   4:32
• 13. Under Silent Walls pt. 1: Blossom   5:51
• 14. Under Silent Walls pt. 2: Alone (ft. Michael Bormann)   8:01
• 15. Under Silent Walls pt. 3: Death Of Cupid   2:21

Discography

• Shining Line (2010 Avenue Of Allies)

Suggested links

• Shining Line on myspace