Legendary musicians from well-known bands have a strong and admirable feature: the fidelity to their roots, to their personalities. There are some that really lose it along the way, but those who are resilient and make things just to keep going on for joy are the best. Let me tell you all: someone like Steve Grimmett is hard to find. One of the greatest and most talented vocalists in Metal, he never gives up, even when his most famous band, GRIM REAPER, entered into hiatus. Now, in hands, we have a new issue of "Personal Crisis", his first solo album.

On this album, obviously, you'll feel the scent of GRIM REAPER's works, but as well a great dose of LIONHEART's music is here too, and a lot of the personality of Steve's musical identity. In some moments, you have the Heavy Metal in a clear NWOBHM way, on others something near Hard'n'Heavy format, and even some classic Hard Rock insight can be fell. The result is an accessible and heavy form of music, with everything sounds greatly, with fine doses of melody and energy, great choruses and perfect instrumental arrangements. Yes, it's excellent, although it's nothing new at all.

Pete Newdeck (the drummer) was the producer of the album, and the one who did the mixing. Dennis Ward worked on the mix too and on the mastering (and produced the vocals as well), all of their efforts to create a strong and heavy sound quality, but with the sense that a good level of sound clarity must be available too. And they reached their goal, giving a modern quality of sound to the album as well. So you have the best of the band's work with no great efforts. Ella Dooney provided vocals on "Karma", Joanna Ruiz did vocals on "Enemy", Eric Ragno played keyboards, and Carsten "Lizard" Schulz made backing vocals, and they are the guests who gave a special shine on the album.

"Karma" is filled with excellent keyboards parts, fine guitars and catchy parts; on "Wait for Ever", in some moments, we feel the Hard'n'Heavy catchy energy like on older works from DEF LEPPARD; the bitter weight; the melodic and introspective "Lonely" with its great bass and drums arrangements; the heavy weight and fine melodic lines of the vocals on "Afterglow"; the modern outfit with classic melodies of "Enemy" (great guitars once more); the accessibility shown on the musical arrangements of "Invincible" (it will remind you all of some 80s ways), and the perfect blend of 80s melodies with modern quality and aggressiveness of "Fallen". No, I did not finish yet, because I left some special words for the band's version of "Wrath of the Ripper", one of the most classic GRIM REAPER's songs, here in a more modern trend, but keeping the original melodies and aesthetics, but putting some fine and new backing vocals on the chorus. It's a great version indeed!

Well, "Personal Crisis" is an excellent work, and I hope Steve will be back on road as soon as possible.