The meeting ground of two artists ready to show their worth to the world might sound like one of those normal endeavours of those big time dreamers waiting for their chance to reach the top. But first they have to earn their spot and their rightful place at the challenge for the throne, especially if we are talking about Hard Rock. This here assembly is a special brand of bluesy vocals and sharp edged guitar shuddering. It's all about being high flying elegant, old school oriented but with a contemporary based sound drive, well crafted and amazingly produced. This is the couple of Will Wallner & Vivien Vain, taking the journey together to the US to find their own fame and fortune. And I am happily to say that they did, and with pretty much flying colors. After recording several demos and showing them off to various of great musicians of the Hard Rock / classic Heavy Metal industry interesting them to work with them on their debut release. I believe that some people would call this a darn luck, however, these pair had something good to show and it is no wonder that musicians like the drumming Appice brothers, Derek Sherinian, Rudy Sarzo, Jimmy Bain, Tony Carey, Tony Franklin and Brian Tichy to help them record their debut "Rising", released via Metal Mind Productions.

Following my first listening to this release I had a few issues with the integration of Vain's voice and Wallner's stellar guitar performance. At the beginning I was more into Wallner's energetic riffing and incredible soloing that reminded me of past wonders made by tremendous guitarists such as John Sykes, Jake E. Lee and some features of Randy Rhodes. I can't remember that last time I was so fascinated by a guitar player. Though there were a few riffs that came back to haunt, but such a classic performer as Wallner is not a musician you would like to miss, no surrey. He might not go down the road of the heavily shredders as Yngwie Malmsteen, Vinnie Moore and such, but who needs it when you have such far-fetched finesse. As for Vain, it was a hard one. Sounding like a cleaner version of Leather Leone and smudges of Janis Joplin, this girl showed promise with good vocals and a tight presentation. Yet over time her vocals began being a tad annoying song after song. On the other hand, spinning "Rising" a few more times helped me understand that Vain & Wallner are a well done team, a smashing piece of performance and should be deemed as unbreakable.

As far as their material on "Rising", this crew kept it strict towards the glorious 80s yet by also showing a slight modern edge, not only with their sound of choice. The songs shared striking heaviness while storming between the beauty of classic Hard Rock in the vein of WHITESNAKE and a few Heavy Metal inductions coming alive just as displayed on the BLIZZARD OF OZ, DIO and 80s BLACK SABBATH. The riffing is catchy and elegant, as on "Dreamstealer" and "Miles Ahead" but also with a tougher periphery just as on the crude "Streets Of Rage", smacking with a massively chopping main riff and the dangerous "Soul Monster". Furthermore, nearly nothing exceeded the amount of dedication and technical abilities to produce such amazing and crafty lead fretwork. I liked the aforementioned tracks also for the reason that these are the grounds where Vain did her best to sound archetypal but commanding, I know I didn't say much about the guest musicians provided the rhythm sections and keyboards outputs just because I considered Wallner & Vain as the main course that they are. Either way, the guests did their part with honour and grace. After all this babbling haul ass and go buy this one.

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