After their album "Revelation"in 2008 with Arnel Pineda as their new singer, JOURNEY decided to return in 2011 with another "near to perfection" album, "Eclipse". With a darker album cover and a more solid and heavy sound than before, JOURNEY proves that the title of the pop ballad band doesn't suit them at all.

Being one of their fans for over a decade and a pure lover of Steve Perry's voice, I admit that I was clearly swept off my feet with JOURNEY's new release. It is a more guitar -oriented album with heavier riffs. Jonathan Cain and his keyboards are moving a step behind and Neal Schon is being left to reign as the ultimate riffmaster. There are no personal favorites in "Eclipse" because you can't simply choose just one or two tracks as the hits of this specific album. All songs reflect the talent, the wisdom and the creativity of JOURNEY, as a band that denies to compromise and follow the usual recipe for quick success and big sales that most of the old school bands tend to do.

The album kicks off with "City of Hope", a typical upbeat JOURNEY song that immerses you immediately in a melodic labyrinth of AOR, touching the boundaries of Progressive Hard Rock. The multi-layered musical majesty of "Eclipse" has brilliant highlights like the songs "Human feel", "Tantra", "Someone", "Resonate", "Ritual" and" Anything Is Possible". Pineda shows his amazing vocal range leaving his unique mark on each track without trying to mimic Perry. The ethereal-woven keyboard melodies, the atmospheric guitar effects, the darker-edged soundscapes, the well written lyrics and the crystal clear production of Kevin Shirley are just a few things in the list of "goodies" that this album has in store for the listener.

If it was an album any other than this, I would say that when you buy a JOURNEY record you know what you will get. In this case, there is no such thing. The remarkable achievement called "Eclipse" is the living proof that evolution is the source of the musical existence. With new air in their lungs, JOURNEY gives a real treat to their fans and the Rock audience generally.