| Musical Style: AOR/Melodic Hard Rock | Produced By: Guild Of Ages |
| Record Label: Escape Music | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2018 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 80% |
| Running Time: 50:09 |
Rise, the summer of 2018 Escape Music fourth full-length album from Guild Of Ages, was worth the wait, with its melodic songwriting, gritty vocals and AOR tinged with leanings towards the classic and progressive rock basis. Wait in terms of how Guild Of Ages was last heard from during the turn of the century period, having released its third album Citadel in 2001 (on MTM Music) and first two (also both MTM) Vox Dominatas and One in 1999 and 1998, respectively. Previous to that Guild Of Ages traces to the late eighties and the Denver, Colorado area, where it was founded by guitarist and keyboardist Anthony ‘Antz’ Trujillo and lead vocalist and guitarist Danny Martinez Jr. initially under the moniker Caught In The Act (CITA). A demo that CITA soon thereafter put together led to a deal with the Scandinavian label Empire Records and its 1995 debut Act 1 - Relapse Of Reason and sophomore album (and first on MTM Music) from 1996 entitled Heart Of Emotion.
Angelic Warlord readers know we have an affinity for mainstream AOR/melodic hard rock bands with believing members, particularly lead vocalists. First that comes to mind, of course, is AdrianGale with its fronting by Jamie Rowe (Guardian), but deserving equal consideration is Line Of Fire (Shawn Pelata) and Action (Jack Marques). It was not until 2018, however, in which the scene exploded when factoring the presence of Romeo Riot (Mark Giovi), Revolution Saints (Deen Castronovo) and Steel City (Brian Cole). You can add Guild Of Ages to the list. Close look at the Rise liner notes reveals Martinez Jr. thanking ‘the Creator’ and Antz ‘my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’, while bassist James Lostetter gets in on the act as well in ‘thanking God’. Whereas Guild Of Ages is by no means a Christian band, as we shall see in the song breakdown portion to the review, the Rise prose reflects the faith of Martinez and Antz.
Following a short instrumental opener entitled “Intro”, Rise transitions to what is this reviewer’s choice track in the seven minute “Deep In Heaven”, of which the group recorded a video. As with many extended length pieces, it begins to a significant instrumental build up as classical keyboards transition to the guitars that power the mid-tempo resonating verse sections. The sublime aura maintains as “Deep In Heaven” maneuvers to its amicably flowing refrain and lengthy instrumental run to feature bluesy soloing. Lyric snippet:
Push through the night
As we sail our course in time, the days go by
We’ve moved on down the line
The passage of this life
Will be guided by the light
You can’t hold on
We live between each breath we have today
Sharing vision of paradise
Having faith to carry on
“Around The Sun” takes the up-tempo leanings to the next level. With a symphonic keyboard solo to start, the song comes across mirthful with its pop-based essence and bounding rhythms in yielding quirky hooks to spare. Of notes is how aggression increases exponentially for the driving instrumental moments. Lone complaint, of which it is difficult to see beyond, are the Shaun Cassidy style bop-bop-bop-ooh backing vocals near the end.
“Addicted” is much better as a rousing bluesy hard rocker. This one ups heaviness as muscular guitars lead the way alongside pulsating Hammond B3, darkly tinctured as it revels in mid-paced groove (for the concentrated verses) only to up the backbone (at the moment of the powering ‘I’m addicted to you’ refrain). Prime Guardian could not do it any better, the least of not which being how front man Danny Martinez brings a grainy and soulful vocal delivery somewhat akin to Jamie Rowe.
Any song entitled “Every Road Leads Me Home” is almost certain to be a ballad, and such is what we have here, and a very good one at that. Delicately maneuvering to acoustic guitar with guitar feedback drifting in and out, the song gains added impetus as rhythm guitar punches in for the affecting refrain. The warm and inviting melody helps further put it over the top. Lyric snippet:
I leave it all behind me now
Wash my sins away
Flee your past and disavow
And face another day
It’s taken me this long
To see the road back home
To know where I belong
I give to you my song
Find a way to carry-on
Every road leads me to home
As a varied piece, “All Fall Down” lends to the Guild Of Ages progressive comparison. The song begins its first seconds reticent to grand piano and symphonic keyboards to lend an ethereal ambience, only gaining tempo as snarling guitars take over to deliver some of the albums heaviest moments the remaining way. Lush backing vocals, a Guild Of Ages trademark, heighten the forthright melody at hand.
“Awaken” delivers a darker sound in maintaining the melody driven basis. Heaviness upholds as well, referencing the affluent rhythm guitar mix but also the concrete bass to attach itself to the uplifting low end. Momentous, moody and affluent are the adjectives that come to mind to describe a song that - and please forgive if I am out of line - to lightly trend towards the modern.
“Love Rules All” lightens with its pop essence. It starts to several seconds of open-air guitar only to flow forward laid back and reserved, reinforcing smooth vocal melodies, which distantly hint of The Beatles, in addition to guitars that while not forward as some, reveal the crisp and clean production all the same. Lyric snippet:
Confession contained
Obsession remains like a fire
Intercession domain
Aggression sustained from desire
Let’s move on / When we’re ruled by addiction
When love rules all / It’s your own fascination
Rendered inane
Absence maintained, hear the thunder
Driven insane
With nothing to gain, still you hunger
“I’ll Keep Burnin’” revels in its high energy boogie ardor, bluesy in terms of the organ adorning the backside but engaging in light of how things smoothly groove to the hook driven refrain. Upping energy further is the keyed up instrumental passage intrinsic to flashy lead guitar. Ultimately, Guild Of Ages wears its eighties influences on its sleeves on this one.
“Rise Another Day” takes a similar forward tone but not to quite the same extent. Initial verse sections decelerate to an acoustic crawl only to have impetus take off to riveting rhythm guitar, inspired and stirring the feel rendered upon acquiring the every bit as galvanizing refrain. Again, soloing is of the moving variety. Lyric snippet:
Paradise, don’t think twice
Paralyzed, sacrificed
Take a breath, let it out
Then you find you’re chained and bound
With your world falling down
Feeling lost and turned around
See where I want to be, makes no sense to me
Saved by trust, when you fooled us all along
In this paradise, we rise above the fray
Without sacrifice, we rise another day
Rise revisits ballad territory with “Hearts Collide”. Airy and reserved in form, it begins to an even joining of acoustic guitar and keyboards only to gain lighter melodic rock force with its tall melody and palatial Stryper-like backing vocals. Occasional guitar feedback and classical keyboards help embellish the polished scene.
Closing the album is second instrumental “Outro” to feature acoustic guitar. No, I have never been a big fan of opening and closing interlude piece - they can unnecessarily clutter the track listing - but if they must be included, then why not be more creative than naming them “Intro” and “Outro”?
Guild Of Ages and its long awaited comeback offering Rise adds up to a very good AOR/melodic hard rock album in a year that has produced a lot of good AOR/melodic hard rock. Songwriting is memorable and varied, I enjoy the gritty to earthy vocals and production/packaging is up to standard. Musically, if you enjoy anything from AdrianGale, Steel City and Revolution Saints to Guardian, Novella and Fear Note, then I can see Rise being of interest. The light faith based lyrics add to its appeal.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Outro” (2:27), “Deep In Heaven” (7:13), “Around The Sun” (4:30), “Addicted” (3:55), “Every Road Leads Me Home” (5:06), “All Fall Down” (4:47), “Awaken” (4:08), “Love Rules All” (4:13), “I’ll Keep Burnin’” (4:10), “Rise Another Day” (3:37), “Hearts Collide” (4:46), “Outro” (:54)
Musicians
Danny Martinez Jr. - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Anthony ‘Antz’ Trujillo - Guitars & Keyboards
James Losetter - Bass
Steve Stuntz - Drums
