CD REVIEW: DIMINO – Old Habits Die Hard

Label: Frontiers Music s.r.l.

Release Date: July 3, 2015

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

Some bands work hard to capture a classic rock sound and other just ooze classic rock.  The new release from Angel lead singer has a foot in the classic while standing steady in solid rock territory.  Disc opener “Never Again” opens with a crunching guitar straight out of the late 1970’s rock sound and the classic feel grows leaps and bounds when the organ, played by Justin Avery, kicks in at the chorus.  “Rockin In The City” runs the other direction as the opening track, in that the guitar sound is more modern and the tempo is a bit hurried comparatively.  The organ is still present, but adds to the track.  “The Rains About To Fall” is a cool track that allows Frank Dimino to show off some of his range without straining at either end fo teh spectrum.  The guitars dance nicely across the track while the organ fills in spots here and there.  “Tears Will Fall” is a chugging rocker that gives each instrument a moment in the spotlight.  The drums and bass anchor the track while the guitars and organ blend together with the vocals.  “Sweet Sensation” takes us back to classic guitar and drum sound (drums courtesy of John Miceli), but the fun doesn’t stop there.  Frank’s vocals sound as if they are being pushed through time machine, giving this a nostalgic feel without sounding rehashed.  Disc closer “Stones By The River” sends this collection off with a slowed down track that seems slightly out of place compared to the other songs.  The instruments are played well and the vocals are good, it just seems to conflict in style and vibe.

“I Can’t Stop Loving You” is a mellower track that allows Dimino’s vocals to lead the charge and carry a track with minimal support from the guitars and rhythm section.  “Even Now” is a beautiful track that features a cool acoustic guitar intro that morphs into a sweet ballad with solid, yet gentle bass lines and Dimino’s emotional vocals echoing the sentiment of the lyrics, even when he shifts range and octave.  Another charging rocker is the lyrically aggressive “Mad As Hell.”  The mood and tempo of the instruments match the lyrics.  The vocals are sped up and run the scales from low to high and bakc again, creating a sense of urgency.  “Tonight’s The Night” has a fun sounding guitars, a thumping bass line, and consistent drumming that fulyl support the great vocals from Dimino.  The guitar solo is a highlight of the track, as if fills the bridge and fills the void between vocals.  “The Quest” is more 70’s flavored rock that not only fits the mood of the disc and the texture of the other tracks, but seems to be a swet spot for Frank’s voice.  The organ throughout the track add depth to the song.  The discs real star is Frank himself, but the cast of guitar players that added to the mix are to be commended for adding to the sound of this disc: Oz Fox (Stryper), Paul Crook (Meat Loaf) – who also plays bass and produced the disc, Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister), Ricky Medlocke (Lynyrd Skynyrd), and former Angel band mate Punky Meadows., as well as Jeff Labansky, Jeff Duncan, and Dylan DiMino along with Danny Miranda’s contributions on bass.

Tracklisting: Never Again – Rockin In The City – I Can’t Stop Loving You – The Rains About To Fall – Even Now – Tears Will Fall – Mad As Hell – Sweet Sensation – Tonights The Night- The Quest – Stones By The River

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Category: CD Reviews