Cleanbreak – Coming Home
Cleanbreak – Coming Home
Frontiers Music s.r.l.
Release Date: 07/08/22
Running Time: 45:22
Review by Simon Black
8/10
James Durbin is one of Frontiers Music’s better finds in recent years. The young Californian singer first became known for his unexpected turn on America’s Got Talent back in 2011, because let’s face it that kind of popular TV pap rarely gives anything vaguely Metal any airtime, never mind a chap with a voice that would make a number of Metal’s biggest screamers look over their shoulders. Think of a slightly cleaner version of Ripper Owens channelling his best Rob Halford, and you are not far away from the piercing and powerful timbre of his voice. Having got airplay, Durbin spent a coupe of years fronting what’s left of Quiet Riot, but the Italian Metal factory that is Frontiers has been giving him the opportunity to front his own bands for a while now. I reviewed his self-monikered “The Beast Awakens” on these pages just over a year ago and was impressed with his range and performance. That has not changed one bit with this new branded act.
Musically the last record was running the gamut of traditional Metal styles as Durbin found his feet, but this disk is more stylistically static, but not in a negative way. Now I’m often cautious when Alessandro Del Vecchio and the house musos are involved, because they work on so many of these projects that things can get repetitious and unfortunately there are elements of this here. Whereas the previous record had a wider and more eclectic mix of contributors, and styles as well as Durbin picking up some of the guitar work, this one he is very much vocals only and although it’s not clear where the writing credit’s lie, this has the distinctive Del Vecchio Melodic Metal feel on the song-writing.
Where this stands above many of the more repetitive Frontiers music by numbers releases is that Durbin has such a distinctive voice and presence. I suspect that because he’s not had so many bites of the recording cherry as older hands, it means also he’s still got the hunger and fire of youth on his side and that determination to do the best job he can shines (and screams) through loud and proud. That alone pulls this release up by the bootstraps and more than makes up for the fairly non-descript Melo-Metal song structures.
The title track, ‘We Are Warriors’ and ‘The Pain of Goodbye’ stand out as the stronger moments, and although I prefer it when Durbin is going full out NWOBHM style screaming, this more mellow and subtle piece gives him the chance to show a little more range and emotion than was evident last time round. He’s a phenomenal talent, and if Frontiers can match him up with a distinctive writing partner from that sub-genre, this chap could be a bone fide hit.
‘Coming Home’ Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Coming Home
02. Before The Fall
03. Dying Breed
04. We Are The Warriors
05. Dream Forever
06. Man Of Older Soul
07. Still Fighting
08. The Pain Of Goodbye
09. Cleanbreak
10. Find My Way
11. No Other Heart
LINE-UP:
James Durbin – Vocals
Mike Flyntz – Guitar
Perry Richardson – Bass
Robert Sweet – Drums
Alessandro Del Vecchio – Keyboards, Background Vocals
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Simon Black and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
