Almost seven years after the release of the controversial comeback “II” album (2002), came “Leaving The End Open” (2009) from Hardline, which marked a welcome return to the sound of their glorious debut album, the classic “Double Eclipse” (1992). That comeback album ended at # 22 in our album poll of 2009, but I’m sure the brand-new “Danger Zone” will do a lot better. The only survivor, vocalist Johnny Gioeli, is now surrounded by guitarist Thorsten Koehne (Code Of Perfection, Eden’s Curse), female bass player Anna Portalupi (Mitch Malloy), drummer Francesco Jovino (UDO) and – last but not least – keyboarder Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge Of Forever), who’s also credited as one of the main songwriters and as producer of the band’s fourth studio album. Other songwriters who contributed, include Matti Alfonzetti, Daniel Flores, Emil Vaker, Christer Gustavsson, Curt Cuomo, Harry Paress, Johan Becker, Chris Laney, Johan Stentorp and even Fred Hendrix of Terra Nova fame. The result is a classic hard rock album that is almost as good as the aforementioned “Double Eclipse” album, featuring a Johnny Gioeli (also known as frontman for Axel Rudi Pell) in top-notch form. Together with H.e.a.t’s “Address The Nation”, this is one of the best melodic releases of the first half of 2012. Album poll 2012: top-10 for sure! (CL)
 

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Modern Pilgrims (on 16/12/12) -   rkblues (on 26/08/12) Great CD with the exception of a couple of songs in the middle that aren't up to par with the rest of the material.   LeRoux (on 12/06/12) A lot of high appraisals. Slightly above average melodic rock but but can't enthral me.   SWANEE (on 5/06/12) Great cd, superb melodies...   Zorro11 (on 4/06/12) -   Axe-To-The-Wax (on 1/06/12) i was very enthusiastic in the beginning, but i made the mistake to listen to "double eclipse" just after this album .... and .... i miss the spirit of the debut album ....the sound.....the songs ...the guys ....everything! this 'new' album is very good, but it doesn't sound Hardline anymore , and i 'm not a big fan of this new guitar player (from who? eden's Curse ? ....) ...wow ......Johnny , call the original guys in America because they know how play Rock'n'Roll !!!!   Guario (on 1/06/12) I can't compare this "Danger Zone" with "Double Eclipse" simply because we have two totally different band. Totally different line up, songwriters and sound, only the name and the singer is the same: we can say that from their second album Hardline are a 100% Frontiers Project, maybe they could change the name of the band in Gioeli, but who cares?! By the way, I have to say that in my opinion this new album is for sure better than two previous works, a top-notch production by Alessandro and a superb Johnny's performance that make a difference. Maybe two-three filler but some great songs too like "Fever Dreams", "Stronger Than Me", the amanzing "Stay" and "Never Too Late For Love" that is far away better than Philip Bardowell's version. Hope this guys can play live together in future, maybe the name of the band is wrong but at last I'm interested only listen good music.   Jarryguo (on 1/06/12) Very dissapointing, with no life and predictable hard/AOR..."Leaving the end open" was fantastic and sounds fresh but this... A cheap copy of "ARP goes to AOR" and only the fantastic "10000 reasons" it´s remarkable... IMO "II" album Is better than this!!!   astonbob (on 31/05/12) their best since the debut, Johnny sings great as always   WOLF 359 (on 31/05/12) Here we go again, why oh why do some people feel the need to compare what is now with what was then and then dislike that new something even thought 20 years have passed by? This new Hardline album is a really nice hard/melodic rock album, full of catchy songs and some superb individual performances. Please those of you who don't have it yet, think that because it isn't 'Double Eclipse' part 2 that it isn't any good because it is! If you like melodic music and Johnny's voice then 'Danger Zone' won't disappoint.   adolfo (on 31/05/12) very good job, showing his more melodic vein. the voice remains in excellent shape after all the years   Lightshade (on 31/05/12) For those of us who love AOR, Melodic Rock and melodies with passion I can not help but putting top ratings on this abum.   Elival (on 31/05/12) Don´t agree with any of the members reviews here. I find this to be an absolutely great album with the mighty Gioeli in top shape. Fever Dreams is one of the best songs of the year.   YNGWIEVIKING (on 31/05/12) I will not tell you again the same past story about how HARDLINE was formed out of the ashes of BRUNETTE 20 years ago, with strong input by both JOURNEY / SOUL CIRKUS guys Neal Schon & Deen Castronovo with also huge song writing contribution by the mighty Mike Slamer (CITY BOY / STREETS / STEELHOUSE LANE / TOWER CITY / SEVENTH KEY / GRAND ILLUSION etc…). I will not tell you again how the 1992’s MCA “Double Eclipse” is still regarded by some as a timeless classic and how disappointed were the AOR Mafia guys, by all the album released since then…You know the yada yada trick “nothing is good since the 1985 summer" rubbish thing. “Leaving The End Open” in 2009 was very good despite the bad comments from the ultraconservative AOR Community, it was a splendid contemporary way to make melodic Hard Rock without the will to rewrite the past or flattering the nostalgia before everything else. Anyhow, once in awhile, Johnny Gioeli escapes from his day job & the Axel Rudi Pell’s straitjacket and trying to resurrect again HARDLINE. With some massive changes in the line-up, this time the personnel is exclusively European with some highly regarded figures for the very moment, as the great shredder Thorsten Koehne (EDEN’S CURSE / ex-DEMON DRIVE / ex-CODE OF PERFECTION also featured with SABU / WOLFPAKK / SUNSTORM) and also EDEN'S CURSE's new colleague: Keyboardist / Singer / Producer Alessandro Del Vecchio (EDGE OF FOREVER / LIONSVILLE / SHINING LINE / PARADISE INC. / SOUL SELLER etc…) First the production is Ok, but far from outstanding. The songs are quite regular and very traditional. The guitar solos are short but interesting and always useful & constructive. The lead vocals are truly all-fired up amazing. Hey, what did you expect? Gioeli is a hell of a singer, and the yellow pages from the Estonian phone book could have been compared with Tolstoy’s “War And Peace” if he had sung it. So you know what to hypothetically wait for. Un-risky Heavy / AOR with unsurprised melodies and awaited & well supposed hook but enjoyable and well crafted. Frontiers Records and HARDLINE are playing safely here, in order to pleased “the numerous retrograde purists” out there. But wait a second it seems that they are still not happy despite everything. Go figure.***1/3 (originally written for www.metal-temple.com)   Frank (on 31/05/12) Great album! The first two songs are among the best I heard all year. After H.E.A.T. this is my favourite album of 2012.   Metal Mark (on 31/05/12) I like some of this, but honestly, Hardline just can't capture...3 CDs in...the magic of the mighty debut. Some songs are really good like 10,000 Reasons and Fever Dreams, but I'm not hearin' the meat I know Johnny and this band can dish up. Could've been way better, in my humble opinion.   Nightman (on 31/05/12) Excellent line up with the 2 guys from Eden's Curse but tha's as good as it gets. Not even a shadow as good as "Double Eclipse" I fail to see how the reviewer could suggest that. My copy is already on Ebay is this is nothing other than weak, boring predictable AOR with the faintest hint of melodic hard rock. What a waste of money this was - guess I got tempted after seeing Johnny in such fine form with ARP in London last month.

 

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