TODD MICHAEL HALL – Sonic Healing

10/10

TODD MICHAEL HALL - Sonic Healing - 10/10

10/10

Summary

Rat Pak Records
Release date: May 7, 2021

[spoiler title=’Metal Express Radio – Ratings Scale’ style=’default’ collapse_link=’true’]

10.0: Cannot be improved! Perfect, instant classic! Essential in any record collection.
9.5 – 9.9: Fantastic, spectacular and outstanding!
9.0 – 9.4: Amazing release! It just lacks that little extra spice to make it perfect.
8.5 – 8.9: Exceptional release! Will likely rank among top ten albums of the year.
8.0 – 8.4: Great release! It has many different qualities.
7.5 – 7.9: Above average! It is an enjoyable release.
7.0 – 7.4: It is not brilliant, but has many strong points.
6.0 – 6.9: It has its moments, but is not that strong.
5.0 – 5.9: Slightly above average, does not stand out. Good outweighs bad by just a little.
4.0 – 4.9: Just below average, bad outweighs good by just a little.
3.0 – 3.9: Mediocre. There might be a song or a performance that is enjoyable, but that is it.
2.0 – 2.9: Very weak! There might be a light at the end of the tunnel, too many flaws.
1.0 – 1.9: This release gives the word “terrible” new meaning.
0.1 – 0.9: Awful! Avoid at all cost. There is nothing good to say about this release.

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The Backstory

Riot V vocalist and Season 18 The Voice contestant Todd Michael Hall teams up with Metal Church guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof for a modern day Classic Rock album; Sonic Healing.

The Album

Get in, buckle up, and hold on tight, because “Overdrive” is going to take you on a trip in the fast lane with its bombastic rhythms and commanding vocals. Once you arrive at your destination, the bluesy rocker “Let Loose Tonight” it going to set the tone for the evening. You’ll begin by bouncing you head and pumping your fist to this infectious song. “All On The Line” sounds like a long-lost Foreigner/Rush collaboration. Truth be told, there’s a lot of Kurdt’s early 2000’s side project, Vanderhoof coming though here.

Clean guitars and Hall’s brilliant melodic vocals kick off the track “Running After You.” This power ballad picks up the pace as it goes along. “Love Rain Down” is another song from the heart. It’s dominated by some fuzzy ‘70s-eque riffage. The album’s title track “Sonic Healing” is led by a deep bass groove that never lets up. It’s an instant toe-tapper that we can all relate to when we need that escape through music.

The Rush, Styx, Boston vibe that Vanderhoof and Hall are displaying continues with “Like No Other.” “Somebody’s Fool” draws out a bit of the Singer-Songwriter side of Todd Michael Hall, with Kurdt keeping things heavy with riff after riff. You’ll recognize that familiar, amped up, classic Blues Rock chord progression on “Long Lost Rock & Rollers.” The song pays homage to those bands you grew up with and the songs that set the soundtrack to your life.

The Verdict

Todd Michael Hall and Kurdt Vanderhoof are a perfect match for each other when it comes to keeping ‘70s Hard Rock radio alive. Sonic Healing is the auditory cure to whatever ails you.

TUNE INTO METALEXPRESSRADIO.COM at 0600 & 1800 (CET) / 12 am & 12 pm (EST) TO HEAR THE BEST TRACKS FROM THIS UPCOMING RELEASE!!!

Tracklist

1. Overdrive
2. Let Loose Tonight
3. All On The Line
4. Running After You
5. Love Rain Down
6. Sonic Healing
7. Like No Other
8. Somebody’s Fool
9. To The Bone
10. Long Lost Rock & Rollers
11. The Other Side (Bonus)
12. Not with a Sword (Bonus)

Author

George Dionne

George was a contributor here at Metal Express Radio, reviewing albums and conducting interviews, out of Massachusetts, USA. George has contributed to numerous music related websites and blogs, and even managed his own from 2004-2009. George's first assignment was covering a live show by the mighty GWAR. By contrast his later assignments featured Judas Priest, Van Halen, and Bon Jovi. George was also the front man for the South Eastern Massachusetts cover band Sound Tower from 2009-2015. Sound Tower played 300+ shows across MA and had two original songs on the Cape Cod radio station PIXY 103. George enjoys a good whiskey, scotch, and/or bourbon and fights crime in his spare time.
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