The new STRANGEWAYS is here. The influential English (with an American singer) AOR/melodic Rock band from the 80s is another one in the typhoon of reunions shaping up again in order to provide the masses(?) with new music. Following the release of Terry Brock's new solo album, "Diamond Blue", and the officially announced reunion show at UK's 'FireFest', STRANGEWAYS builds up a new album called "Perfect World" and what I really wonder is how the hell such bands decide to record again new music after all this years (three Brock-less albums recorded between 1995-2000 are not worth being mentioned here) in this Music Industry days. It's not that "Perfect World" lacks quality in the making; on the contrary...

The case of STRANGEWAYS is a typical one for a British band. They played/sounded like Americans but did receive commercial rejection from their home country Media sharks plus did not achieve making it to the big American markets. Thankfully independent journalists and pure fans would not let STRANGEWAYS' vibrant style go unnoticed. Now, more than 20 years later, albums like "Strangeways" (1984), "Native Sons" (1987) and "Walk In The Fire" (1989) are unarguable classics and must releases for fans of bands like JOURNEY, AVIATOR, Bryan Adams, FM, simplified MARILLION and mild CHEAP TRICK.

"Perfect World" has not much to be said in a Metal/Hard Rock mag. The album's on the border of AOR/melodic Rock, it features top quality songwriting and performance by some fine musicians (most of them belonging to the late 80s lineup) and generally justifies the star of STRANGEWAYS in the book of melodic/atmospheric music. It shall probably sound quite peaceful - and boring to an extent - to the ears of more vivid Rock fans but tranquil music has sufficient amounts of power if forthrightly decrypted.

I'm pretty anxious for STRANGEWAYS' gig at 'FireFest' this October. Until then, the lunar voice of Terry Brock along with the milestone existence of guitarist Ian J. Stewart are flawless sureties for "Perfect World"'s adamancy. It's up to the fans of the genre to decide on the album's retro-action.

P.S.: It's rumored Terry Brock secretly auditioned for Ian Gillan's challenging role in DEEP PURPLE in the late 80s.