Faithfull
Horizons Perris Records

by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer

Comments: Portuguese melodic rockers Faithfull are back from a long hiatus with their second album, entitled Horizons. Given how well received their 2003 album Light this City was (at least in Japan), waiting half a decade to issue a follow up album doesn't seem like the best choice, but it's hard to argue with the results.

Faithfull has a middle of the road melodic rock sound. They're not Pretty Maids heavy or Street Talk wimpy, but rather hit that perfect balance between hard rock and AOR, much like Von Groove, Harem Scarem, Emerald Rain and especially Bonfire. The band also strikes a balance between the '80's melodic rock sound and a more modern sensibility. Catchy hooks and captivating melodies are paired with first rate songwriting and mature lyrics. The result is that Horizons feels completely familiar and completely refreshing at the same time.

The melodies are what draw you into Horizons, but the vocal performance is what makes these songs stay with you and reach you on an emotional level. Sergio Sabino's restrained midrange vocals are no less compelling than the high octave style that's so prevalent in this kind of music, and make for a nice change of pace. The musicianship and songwriting is high caliber as well. Horizons' harder songs ("Save the Clowns", "Do You Give a Damn") pack plenty of punch and some of the slower songs ("Who's the Face", "You Walked Away") are downright beautiful, but there's really nothing here that remotely qualifies as filler.

Horizons is nothing you haven't heard before, but that's part of what makes it such an appealing album. A quality melodic rock album like this reminds you of why you fell in love this kind of music in the first place and why you continue to listen to it even when the rest of the world has moved on to other fads. Hopefully Horizons will be the album that brings Faithfull the wider audience their music certainly deserves. It's just a very solid, very enjoyable, well-executed melodic rock album that should appeal to just about anyone who is into this kind of music.

Online: www.myspace.com/faithfullband

Lineup:
Rui Martins: Guitar
Rui Rocha: Keyboards
Sergio Ramos: Drums
Sergio Sabino: Vocals
Mario Barbosa: Bass

Track Listing:
1. Time Flies
2. Somehow
3. Save the Clowns
4. In My Defense
5. Who's the Face
6. Do You Give a Damn
7. Blindfold
8. The Best of Me
9. Never Came Today
10. You Walked Away

Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10