I think that I was less than ten years old when I first time heard the classic RAINBOW hit "I Surrender" starring the one and only Joe Lynn Turner on vocals, though today when I think about it he was so different than Dio, yet he has his own magic. Thinking back again I had a second run in with his voice on the classic 'Trillogy" album of Yngwie Malmsteen where Turner also shined. Over the years I didn't listen to his works that much though I knew that he has been active quite a lot, probably in the same rate as Doogie White. I almost had the chance to see him live with his solo band but he canceled the show. However, as pissed as I was, when I listened to this third album, "Emotional Fire", by his Hard Rock / AOR band, SUNSTORM, aside from liking it, I knew that I probably missed a lot.

With the overall easiness of this release I understood why it was called "Emotional Fire". Turner is the picture perfect of how an emotive singer should perform and sound like. As one of the top voices of Rock I didn't expect any less from him no matter age or the background music that supports him. As far as the music goes, I figured it would be in that same 80s vein along with a few 70s oriented harmonies of the American kind. The music wasn't the only thing surprised me, though the lone guitarist, Uwe Reitenauer was something else with the performance of some kick ass solos, the same themes that Turner had been dealing with for years. Although it can be tiresome and to think that there is nothing else to write songs about, the words sound so natural and authentic when coming from Turner's singing. So I can't really complain there.

Nonetheless, the catchiness of the music, even with the bearing of convincing rhythms and amazing production, sometimes I felt as if the songs were repeating themselves. Well I didn't expect any room for innovation, especially from a type of artist that got used on doing the same thing for years; however I guess there was no running from a little reprocessing here and there. All in all I did enjoy the sweet sound of the songs along with a solid rhythm section, rich lead guitar work and of course the voice of Eden. I would recommend on "Torn In Half", "Never Give Up", "Lay Down Your Arms" and the finishing love but ballad of "All I Am".

Even if I don't always appreciate sugar cane like sweets as AOR albums, SUNSTORM made me want to know more about their music from their earlier releases. And as for Joe Lynn Turner, I hope that he will decide to come and play live again without cancelling.