Is Europe paving the guiding path for melodic Rock/AOR music in the post-80s era? Yes, of course. With Scandinavian countries being a kinda 'leader' the last 15 years, we were happy to see 'melodic' bands pumping outta every corner of the European continent: Italy, Holland, Greece, Spain, France. Yes, France with SHANNON being the finest export to date. A quintet whose second full-length release may top your personal 2008 list, even if it's still half the way of this year.
2003's Shannon debut CD was a nice surprise to the melodic hardrockin' world. Stepping on the stones set by late 80s/early 90s American/German/Swedish bands, that album featured notable compositions in the vein of DOKKEN, HARDLINE, HEAVEN'S EDGE, HURRICANE, 220 VOLT, TREAT, ZENO, PINK CREAM 69, McAuley-era MSG, FAIR WARNING and the rest you can imagine. Melodic guitar work, fitting keys, a 'fat' rhythm section and some wonderful vocals from Olivier Del Valle (NIGHTFALL, TWILIGHT, LOLLYPOP, JANNYLEE).
Nearly five years have now passed, with Angel In Disguise storming out to - I assume - impress you even more, if you did dig the 2003 debut album. The songwriting of the band has been finely developed ever since; some positive criteria was already known due to 2007's World Of Desire 5-track demo (most or all songs are included in this 2008 new release) and - to my ears, after half a dozen of spins - SHANNON has succeeded also in upgrading their 'identity' status. Not only the songs are penned now in a more dynamic way, with certain ambition in the role of each instrument in each song part, but also the 'not a copycat' creativity has reached a higher climax. The atmosphere is half American - in the guitars work, mainly - and half European - keys and vocal harmonies - resulting in a balanced album with much of energy and less (if any) of repetitive/boring formulas.
As for the songs' value in particular? The 'sting' bears the same taste as in 2003. Hence, there's melody allover with Hungry For Love, Keep On Rolling, more American rockers will put you down (Do You Know, No Better Times, Coming Back To You, Hang On), the European effect is imminent in tracks like No More Lies, Love In Your Eyes, Long Gone, Winter Night, Change Your Heart and Road OF Desire (weird leads), while more slow-tempo chills may rise up with On An On.
All these, with an indeed powerful voice (a Frenchman singing English ain't an easy task, I guess) plus some dominating guitars/keys hard work and a solid rhythm section underneath so as to establish a proper 'heavy' base that even melodic Metal warriors may find attractive. Angel In Disguise; an album destined to haunt your 'melodic' dreams anno 2008. Can't wait to see the market feedback. Else, you/we'll get what you/we deserve. And, to the band: please, don't release your next album in 2013.
P.S.: A limited edition of the CD includes also Do You Feel My Love and an impressive cover version of Michael Jackson's Thriller.