SOLEDRIVER: Return Me To Light

I don’t know if you’re like me, but I love great melodic vocals. One of the best voices out there is Mister Michael Sweet, or should I say Mister Musicians R Busy? This dude keeps himself busy, his guitar and singing chops in shape – to say the least. This new project features great songs, which is as much of a trademark for this dude as his vocals and guitar leads are. I don’t know how he does it, but my ears sure are glad he does.

His partner in crime for this latest side project is fellow singer/songwriter Alessandro Del Vecchio, who you might be familiar with. He has played with Edge Of Forever, Hardline, Revolution Saints, and Jorn. His resume reads like a blueprint for melodic hard rock. On this release he handles multiple instruments, like all of the guitars, bass, and keyboards. Yes, you read that correctly. Michael shredfast-shredfest Sweet handed off all the guitars to his more than capable friend. After hearing what he delivered, I can’t blame him. The dude is amazing and he doesn’t have to go overboard to thrill, wow, and give the songs just what they need. Del Vecchio also adds backing vocals, of course.

When mixing talent like this (along with drummer Michele Sanna), it’s no surprise that all 11 tracks shimmer with clean, melodic rock brilliance. I would hate the challenge of having to pick the first single to promote this album. They’re all so good.

“Rise Again” kicks things off with his voice shining high and center in the mix. With choruses that beg sing-alongs, he is charting familiar territory with his familiar trademark and spot-on high quality vocals.

“Anymore” has a handful of lyrical questions, seemingly in the context of a relationship.

“Pieces of Forever” have superb singing guitar leads that match the vocal melodies. Such a pretty song.

“Hope’s Holding You” starts off with quiet keys and piano playing, then kicks in with arena rock guitar rhythms and mid-tempo drums. It’s a feel-good anthem of sorts that features the goosebump-inducing melodies melded with lyrics to pull someone from the pit of despair.

If you miss the made-for-MTV melodic pop-metal sounds of yesterdecade, then “Eternal Flame” is yet another song that’ll whisk you back to those days of staring at the tv screen and hoping/waiting for Stryper, Heart, Kix, Night Ranger, Def Leppard, Firehouse, Cheap Trick, Steelheart, Mr. Big, Slaughter, and Bon Jovi. “Spinning Wheel” pulls on those same heart strings that Foreigner, Loverboy, Whitesnake (ballads), and Europe tugged on for years. It’s amazing to hear such excellent music from a massive musical movement but not sound derivative at all.

“To Be Saved” kicks off with loud and proud guitars before giving way to the kind of belted out vocals that’ll have karaoke singers using their hands to express each line and verse for their imaginary stage. Without preaching like a few Stryper songs, the lyrics seem to point heaven-ward.

“Soul Inside” pleads with the listener in a fun Jefferson Starship / up-tempo Journey way to “bring your fear into the light / save the soul inside.” A great example of keyboards and guitars coexisting for the betterment of our mood.

“Wounded” seems the perfect title to the emotional sounds of the piano setting up the plodding beat that leads to a confessional chorus that lets it all out.

To be blunt, Soledriver will absolutely make a bunch of us giddy with joy. Some might cry a few tears or make us grin from ear to ear, but most of us will at least feel like we’ve run into an old, familiar friend that we’ve known for years but never heard these songs. It’s easy to feel this album. Thank God this is fresh, brand-new music, because it would easily make us angry and resentful for any artist to hold on to material like this and not share it with us.

Without going into an in-depth analysis of all his great collaborations and solo efforts, this might be Sweet’s best work outside of Stryper. Let’s hope this team gets together again soon.

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