In FAITHFULL's CD I had the chance to confirm why it's not an easy task to perform melodic Rock/AOR music. It may seem to many that this specific lend simply consists of naive chords with an average rhythm section and some 'I love you' lyrics themes to get over.
FAIHFULL released their first album in 2003, and they were lucky enough to see Light This City certified album of the month at Japan's Burrn! Magazine, while it was also placed high enough on the Japanese Hard Rock charts. And then there was silence. Till now, the year that the Horizons follow-up is released. I have not listened to the debut album, but this one left me with mixed feelings. On one hand you get some interesting hooks and a pretty voice from Sergio Sabino but, at the same time, it seems there's not enough 'nerve' in the playing while the sound lacks volume, bringing on some misery at times.
To expand: the limited 'joyful' tunes are impressive (e.g. Time Flies) bringing on a 'think pink' mood, whereas more moody cuts (e.g. The Best Of Me) did bring on a feeling of semi-boredom. The band seems to enjoy the songlist, but I did not achieve to feel 'up' throughout the whole CD. Some DOKKEN-isque kick-ass riffing (and some brilliant American 80s Rock soloing) by Rui Martins sporadically raised some hell, but periodically I felt as if I'm listening to a morose version of HAREM SCAREM, NUCLEAR VALDEZ or 'new' BON JOVI (or BLUE TEARS).
I'd recommend Horizons to core fans of ultra-settled AOR/melodic Rock bands, better. Not that it is a bad album, I just expected some more dynamics from this Portuguese quartet.