Due to the latest 'comeback' release of these excellent German melodic Hard Rock act, it was time for the never-stopping Frontiers label to lay down a couple of related (re)issues. First it was the release of the scarce Call Of The East DVD (available only in Japan, in prior) - see the relative review - while the 'top' two albums previously released by Fair Warning are now available again; not in a 'double CD' package - don't get fooled by this review's formatting!
Fair Warning (originally released in 1991 via WEA): I have this album on a vinyl edition and - to be honest - I'd die to see some 'obscure' label pressing the band's rest discography also. Anyway, this album sees a band assembled by Zeno and V2 members in order to perform sentimental Hard Rock music the 'marvellous' way. Produced by Rafe McKenna (Ten, Giant/Bad Company/Tesla), the likes of Tyketto, Bonfire, Giant and Zeno are featured in here. A kicking mix of both US and European Hard Rock , excellent melodies, the perfect company for vacations and a brilliant future raised in front of Fair Warning. The 'ace' voice of Tommy Heart is as 'haunting' as the excellence in the album's songwriting - e.g. Longing For Love, When Love Fails and The Eyes Of Rock - and the rest of the musicians' playing. Essential for melodic Rock (I 've said this before; the term owes a lot to Fair Warning) fans and German Hard Rock followers all the way!
Rainmaker (originally released in 1995 via WEA): Considered by many as the band's 'epitome' in their sort-lived career, Rainmaker sold really good in Japan - 140,000 copies, during the Grunge 'tornado' - and 'established' the band as a fave for lots of melody-related hard rockers. Self-produced, this effort is slightly more 'mellow' related to the 1991 debut, now keener on the AOR 'key ingredients'. Acoustic guitars here and there, great soloing, terrific - again - vocals and a 'fat' rhythm section are included. Nonetheless, tunes like Burning Heart (the band's first single/video), What Did You Find, Get A Little Closer and Desolation Angels - in a non-fillers album - will persuade you; objections overruled.
In terms of musical magic, both re-releases offer you the chance to get a grip on some excellent compositions. It's really a shame Frontiers did not grab the chance to add some 'bonus' stuff, but - anyway - who can oppose to such superiority offered by Fair Warning, a German band that - proved or not - can touch your heart really deep. You can't call yourself a Frontiers consumer and not take hold of both these top albums.