The SHINING LINE project is the brainchild of a Italian drummer Pierpaolo Monti, who also is the songwriter for this excellent CD release. Who says drummers are for keeping pace and only? Mr. Monti confirms the sense of music is an inner charisma, hence "Shining Line" proves to be a splendid AOR/melodic Rock album with such great quality you probably won't believe.

The aery cover artwork has a rich message: appropriate for lunar lonely nights or some mild night drive, "Shining Line" steps on the thin red line between sensation and iterance. All songs are of top stature and would be a necessity to legendary bands of the genre, just imagine. Pierpaolo and Amos join forces with some renowned Italian musicians (like e.g. Alessandro Del Vecchio) and the 'backing music' part is ready. What's left? Some really striking singers to front and a handful of fascinating musicians to add leads work.

Harry Hess, Robin Beck, Phil Vincent, Michael Bormann, Brunorock, Carsten "Lizard" Schulz, Michael Voss and Erik Martensson are names you have surely come across if a loyal fan of melody and essence in your Hard Rock music. The same goes for musicians like Vinny Burns, Tommy Ermolli and Matt Filippini. I do not know if the singers came first and then the music or the other way round but how little meaning does such a fact have...

The music is so emotional, with thrilling guitar solos, some great refrain hooks and as soon as you're ready to speak out names in comparison the same second you'll feel ashamed the 'filter' is so strong you will not dare speak one word. Pierpaolo has honestly written some simple yet so powerful cuts and has broaden each songs' value given the magnetism of each singer you won't believe the result. All these, provided "Shining Line" is the kind of albums you seek for your mild/detox moments.

In a set of equally love some numbers, "Strong Enough", "Heat Of The Light", "Can't Stop The Rock", "Still In Your Heart", "Follow The Stars" and "Unbreakable Wire" I found out they're playing repeatedly in my player. SHINING LINE is one project surely worth your attention and I dare say recent - or not so - collaborations like e.g. VOICES OF ROCK or WORLDSTAGE do not succeed in featuring such strong music. The atmosphere is winning here, the production and mix are ideal (Del Vecchio and Voss are in charge) and "Shining Line" shall nail you down; Pierpaolo, bravo!