ROBIN McAULEY – Alive

February 21, 2023 Bryce Van Patten Album Reviews, Reviews 0
Robin McAuley - Alive album Cover
  • 8.9/10
    ROBIN McAULEY - Alive - 8.9/10
8.9/10

Summary

Label: Frontiers Music s.r.l.
Release date: February 17, 2023

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It really comes as no surprise that most of the better releases that come out are still coming from veterans of the 1980s Heavy Metal scene, and making no exception this week we have the second solo album from Robin McAuley (Black Swan, McAuley Schenker Group) titled Alive. After releasing his second Black Swan album in 2022, Robin McAuley is back with the same lineup he had from his first solo record Standing on the Edge, with stunning guitarist Andrea Seveso, bassist/keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio (who also produces once again), and drummer Nicholas Papapicco.

About the Album

Robin McAuley – Alive is definitely a more Melodic Metal/Hard Rock album that has flashy guitar work, strong melodies and always a solid, foot tapping beat. From the opening track “Alive” we are given melodies that stick in your head, and always anthemic choruses that are sing-a-long ear worms. The incredible thing on the recording is that Robin’s voice is stronger than ever, and more refined than his work in the 80s on McAuley Schenker Group classics Perfect Timing and Save Yourself. On speaking with Robin, he credits his longevity to protecting his voice by not smoking, vocal training and the feeling he has that he owes it to his fans to be the best he can be.

Final Notes

For this reviewer, Robin McAuley – Alive is a celebration of Melodic Metal that has a definite hard edge, while bringing the big melodies and well written lyrics that Robin McAuley is known for. All 11 tracks have something great to offer fans who love their Metal with a melodic voice. Coming in at just over 44 minutes, Alive is just about the perfect length to enjoy without ever feeling fatigued or ready to skip ahead to the next song. Fans of Robin McAuley have to own this, and fans of Hard Rock, Melodic Metal who have somehow missed out on this artist up till now owe it to themselves to pick up a copy.

Robin McAuley on stage.
Photo: Joe Schaeffer Photography

Lineup

Robin McAuley – vocals
Andrea Seveso – guitars
Alessandro Del Vecchio – bass, keyboards
Nicholas Papapicco – drums

Alive – Tracklist

  1. Alive
  2. Dead As A Bone
  3. Bless Me Father
  4. Feel Like Hell
  5. Can’t Go On
  6. The Endless Mile
  7. Fading Away
  8. My Only Son
  9. When The Time Has Come
  10. Stronger Than Before
  11. Who I Am

Author

  • Bryce Van Patten

    Bryce is an audio engineer and a graphic designer here at Metal Express Radio. From the day he purchased his first album (Machine Head by Deep Purple), he has had a passion for heavy music, which has influenced his whole life. Bryce is from the great Pacific Northwest in USA, and has played in metal bands like Babylon, Holy Terror, The Wild Dogs, Warhead and Egypt through the 80s. He had his first interview for the Portland, Oregon publication The Rock Rag with guitarist Paul Gilbert in his Racer X days. Then he was honored to get to have drinks, and talk for an hour with the legendary Dan McCafferty of Nazareth for his second interview. In 2013, he spent an amazing hour talking to Andi Deris of Helloween, which was the high point of his heavy metal journalism.   In the year 2001, he formed Man in Black Music Publishing. They released recordings by several local bands, and in the spirit of the old Metal Massacre compilations, he created a 2-album series called The Defenders of Metal. The albums featured classic styled Metal bands from all around the world, with bands from Australia to England, and from Argentina to Russia. Currently, he is the producer/creator/vocalist of the Metal band The Black Tuesdays.

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