Only a year after “Closer to the Edge”, Harry Hess is back with a new First Signal album titled “Face Your Fears”. Since the gap between the two albums is so short, one of two things could have happened. Harry was either not very satisfied with his earlier work, or he had so many new song ideas that he wanted to release them as soon as possible. This time Harry cooperated with producer Michele Guaitoli (Visions Of Atlantis, Temperance, and ERA), who has produced albums by Issa, Visions Of Atlantis, Kalidia, SheWolf, among others. Michele also plays the bass and some guitars on the album, in addition to supervising production. Moreover, Marco Pastorino (Issa, Secret Sphere) is on guitar, and Marco Andreetto (Issa) on drums.
Personally, I was unsatisfied with the prior work, and I was somewhat prejudiced when I started listening to the album. Maybe not working with Daniel Flores this time was a smart move for Harry to try something different. And it actually worked! “Face Your Fears” is an album with the musical quality that one would expect from a First Signal release. The production is full and powerful, and Harry’s vocals remain amazing, albeit a little raspier than before. The bass guitar and drums are clear and crisp, and the guitar work and vocals are properly matched in the mix. The use of harmonies and layered vocals is particularly effective, adding depth and emotion to the songs.
“Unbreakable”, “Situation Critical”, “Shoot the Bullet”, “Always Be There”, “Donimoes”, “Rain for Your Roses”, “Never Gonna Let You Go”, “Not This Time” and “In the Name of Love” are without a doubt the album’s best songs. All the tracks are full of heart and emotion, with catchy melodies, and nice instrumentation. Sometimes the songs are more hard rocking, but that’s not an issue, cuz Harry’s voice fits this style as well. In general, the album’s AOR, Melodic Rock, and Hard Rock blending is remarkably efficient.
Ultimately, “Face Your Fears” is an excellent album that succeeds on all levels. In a short period of time, Harry has managed to deliver an album worthy of the Fist Signal legacy, while also making us forget about the last dull release. After all, Harry Hess is one of the best AOR / Melodic Rock vocalists, and he knows how to deliver the goods in a variety of ways.
