KINGS OF BROADWAY, an Italian Hard Rock band who pushed their way into the music scene almost 6 years ago, just released their self-titled debut album after much anticipation by their devoted fanbase. The group originally started as an amateur project led by guitarist Lonobile, and was made up of several of his good friends, Cartasegna, Messeri, and Andreaone. The missing puzzle piece was vocalist Tiziano Spigno, and when he was offered a position in 2012, the band began to work on putting together an album in earnest. The group's rise to fame has been exponential. In such a short time, they've managed to establish a devoted group of fans, play multiple live gigs all over Europe, and were recently signed by the famous Danish record label Pride & Joy Music. They deserve it. It's not the group's first time playing Rock and Metal, and between the five members they must have over several decades of combined musical experience. For example, Lonobile has made quite a reputation for himself among Italian Heavy Metal bands as he's been a part of CIVILIZATION ONE, SHADOWSPELL, and others, and his bandmates have played for groups such as SECRET SPHERE and ODD DIMENSION. They're a force to be reckoned with. As the band says in their bio, "Kings do not obey."

"First Day of My Life" kicks everything off with a powerful groove and a tightly executed drum rhythm. The style here is a mix between Blues, Hard Rock, and just a bit of a Heavy Metal kick. The vocals are a hundred percent Hard Rock, Spigno's voice is that magical mix of sultry sleaze and snarling grit and the chorus is catchy and melodic. This song boasts infectious hooks, a rollicking solo, and overall is just one hell of an opener. In "Berserk", the riffs and style take a turn for the more Classic Rock feel. The bubbly, upbeat rhythm guitar riffs in the verses give off a bit of a traditional 80's vibe, however, that's not to undermine the new elements KINGS OF BROADWAY bring to the table. The swaggering confidence in the vocals is only exaggerated by the swirling, twangy guitar and bass riffs, and every element melds together to create a flawless blend of give-em-hell Hard Rock.

"Shallow Ground" is undoubtedly one of the heavier pieces on the album. The chest-thumping growl of the bass becomes obvious here, especially in the intro, and the contrast between the electrifying riffs of the chorus and the slightly lighter, more melodic verses keeps an element of uniqueness. The almost percussive quality of the guitar and bass in this track show off some of Lonobile's Heavy Metal roots, and honestly this track has to be one of my favorites on the album. In "Quantum Leap", the riffs have that same hollow, heavy-yet-light sound that's common in Melodic Metal. This track features isolated, ghostly vocals over a clear, raw drum track in the verses, but then explodes into a surge of intense guitar, bass, and drum riffs in the chorus. Spigno's vocal melodies, especially in the chorus, have true passion and emotion, and personally I believe that's what makes any song great.

"Never Enough" opens with an uncharacteristically light, dreamy tone for KINGS OF BROADWAY. The orchestral background adds an extra, interesting element, and the musical elements were flawless, technically speaking. However, to be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of this song. It felt almost like an attempt to make a radio-friendly Rock hit, and ended up just being a bit cliché and typical-sounding. In "Iron Lady", the band kicks back into their Hard Rock riffs and gravelly vocals. The guitar riffs are chugging and reminiscent of 80's Heavy Metal, and the bass and drums wind together perfectly to create a backdrop which adds depth to the track as a whole. The chorus is another blast of catchy beats and melodies, and this track does a perfect job functioning as the prerequisite love song every good Rock album needs.

"Dancing on the Edge of Time" shows off the talents of the dual guitars in multi-textured riffs and engaging rhythms that roll throughout the entire track. This song is another one of my favorites. It's got that classic Bluesy Hard Rock swing, but still retains a bit of a Heavy Metal bite to please fans on both ends of the spectrum. Spigno also reveals a lot of his vocal versatility here as he goes from Rock n' Roll wails to seductive, dangerous whispers in a heartbeat. "Through It All" introduces itself with hauntingly beautiful, exposed vocals and simplified, muted drumbeats. To be honest, I was kind of dreading this song turning into every other Rock ballad, however, I think KINGS OF BROADWAY injected enough of their power and specific style into this track to keep it interesting. Granted, it wasn't the standout track of this album but, I liked this song a lot more than I thought I would, and I'll give it to 'em, they know how to write a catchy, engaging melody.

In "Hit the Ground", the song takes on a traditional Heavy Metal vibe, and points the spotlight on Cartasegna in a kind of drum showcase. This song is a prime example of a Hard Rock anthem. Between the chanted element in the chorus to the choppy, growling guitar riffs, you can just sense that this is a song to headbang to. The solo is infused with just the right amount of a Bluesy groove while still keeping the integrity of the notes, and honestly I can't say anything other than that this song will kick your ass. The last song, "Counting Stars", came as a surprise to me. Not many Hard Rock bands choose to cover modern songs, much less ones that are Pop-Rock radio candy (like this one by ONEREPUBLIC). However, once again, I was pleasantly surprised by the completely different direction KINGS OF BROADWAY took this song, and how much of a clear, beautiful singing voice Spigno has when he's not belting Hard Rock lyrics. The bubbly guitar riffs had an interesting dynamic along with the drums, and the band of course brought all the Rock n' Roll power they could in the chorus.

In conclusion, KINGS OF BROADWAY have created something simply incredible in the time they've been together as a band. They deserve much more recognition than they have. With their dynamic style, musical talent, and experience, they have the potential to be right up there along with the big names. While a few of their songs seemed to fall a bit flat compared to the high energy of the rest of the album, they are a powerful group that can create even more powerful music.