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WILD ROSE
Hit ‘N’ Run

AOR Blvd (2014)
Rating: 5/10

Wild Rose is a Greek act boasting a six-man attack in the form of David A. Saylor (lead vocals / backing vocals), Andy Rock (guitar / keyboards / backing vocals), Dirty Haris (keyboards / backing vocals), Tiny Karpo (guitar), Phil Gun (bass) and Dimos Thomaidis (drums).

The combo was originally formed by Andy Rock in 2004, although the debut album, Half Past Midnight, didn’t emerge until 2011. In 2013 their sophomore opus, Dangerous, was issued suggesting a band bursting at the seams with material, and now that prolific quality has emerged again with Hit ‘N’ Run which although appearing rather soon after the last album celebrates the band’s ten-year anniversary.

This new composition – complete with a misleading cover which almost suggests some dodgy sleaze rock band – offers up a batch of energetic hard rock tunes which are sprinkled with juicy keyboards, a driving guitar sound and American-born David A. Saylor’s distinctive vocal strains.

With these sort of AOR bands we’re often treated with two vocal variations; firstly we have the high pitched croon and the next a fiery, soulful rich tone, but Saylor has a dryness to his vocal tones. Imagine 80s pop icon Paul Young – well, sort of – fronting a hard rock band and you might get the idea!

The album opens up with ‘Through The Night’ which opens with a throbbing keyboard and jabbing riff before Saylor’s husky tone interjects. There are warm textures flowing through this track; it’s easy on the ears, a tad clichéd but extremely likeable and inoffensive. The guitar, as is always the case with such a yearning sound, is ever-present as it drives the sound quite literally through dark streets in search of a love we may never ultimately find.

The messages on this opus are certainly loud and clear if rather predictable, but then again that’s the joy of this sort of melodic rock. ‘I’ll Be There’ follows a similar path with that guitar and keyboard union bolstered by a gentle drum thud. “We’re a hundred miles apart” Saylor almost mourns, “…but that won’t be enough to stop my beating heart” he adds, and it’s all very sincere amidst that marrying of simmering harmony and prodding percussion.

It’s power rock right to the hilt; rich in substance but lacking an overall grit and depth at times, although ‘Stay’ offers up a fizzing guitar introduction which in contrast is belied by Saylor’s pleading which isn’t that convincing as he barks, “Maybe there is hope for us”. But I’m not so sure, as I become more and more wrapped up in that familiar air of AOR mediocrity.

‘Without Your Love’ is a subtle piano-led ballad and this is where Saylor comes into his own. His strains seem more comfortable with such a dreamy, lightweight sway, whereas during other high-end rockier numbers it appears as if he’s struggling to match the fire in the bellies of his fellow musicians.

My other issue is the rather downbeat quality of it all. I’m used to AOR being centred upon being in love or getting love back, but there is such a broken-hearted air of the sullen about Saylor’s voice as if he’s giving up on it all, and I’m almost prompted to yell “Get over it!” at the stereo!

Although this album is a smooth experience, a majority of the tracks seem to melt into one another offering the same dreary pleading, ‘Alone’ being another example of Saylor’s desperation to find love and adding a strain of the negative to what should be uptempo proceedings. And so with that, Hit ‘N’ Run is a little too much on the depressing side, because when Saylor seethes, “I can’t sleep another night” I know how he feels; someone ground down to the bare bones by this rather agitated heap of middle of the road rock. I’ve seen some misleading album covers in my time but this takes the biscuit!

Neil Arnold

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