Musical Style: Progressive Hard Rock	Produced By: Delorean
Record Label: Independent	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 2004	Artist Website:
Tracks: 10	Rating: 80%
Running Time: 50:03

Despite a nostalgic name paying homage to a ‘retrofitted flux capacitor time travel vehicle’, DeLorean is actually a well-honed progressive rock band with strong metal and hard rock affinities to go with faith based lyrics.  No, the group might not trace its lineage ‘back to the future’ but rather Chapel Hill, North Carolina and turn of the century when guitarist Dan Cummins and bassist Jeremy Clark ‘sought to form an ambitious rock band unconfined by contemporary rock music stereotypes’ (referencing its press material from the time).  With guitarist and lyricist John Stone, drummer Adam Satterwhite and vocalist Ruth Ball solidifying its lineup, DeLorean entered the studio to begin work on its independent summer of 2004 debut full length Dauntless.

DeLorean makes intricate and technically sophisticated songwriting its specialty, weaving its material with manifold time and tempo changes and commonly extending individual songs past six and even seven-minutes.  The group thus takes ample opportune to exhibit its instrumental sound, revealed from manner in which Dauntless features three instrumental tracks and numerous excursions into extended jam band territory.  Yet, DeLorean is also not afraid to place emphasis on an element of variety including but not limited to eighties influenced melodic metal and hard rock and commercial tinged ballad derivative AOR.

Opening instrumental “Acropolis”, two minutes of gossamer keyboards that give way to placid guitar harmonies, leads in to “Inferno”.  With lightly done guitar to start, song gallops its span to gallant riffs and undaunted inclining as Ruth Ball sings with conviction and confidence in unveiling her rich soprano vocal delivery.  DeLorean exhibits the depth to its instrumental sound in form of duel guitar harmonies and stately Kansas-like soloing.  Lyric snippet:

Throughout trials and tribulations, ya gotta give the fight your best
Confidence in turbulence separates you from the rest
Through the rains and firewalls built solid and strong
It cannot put my fire out, forever it lives on

But I have a burning desire
The fuel on the fire
A flame that burns higher
For all the world to see

Six-minute “Onward” pinpoints the DeLorean progressive side.  It articulates of technical variances, at times reticent for taciturn acoustic moments and others uninhibited as valorous guitar riffs prevail in power metal life fashion.  Refrain touches upon the symphonic with its distinguished if not noble bearing.  Satterwhite impresses with his multifaceted timekeeping.

Forty-five second acoustic instrumental “Exordium” precedes seven minute “Without Wings”.  Song impresses of a progressive rock ballad, medieval tinctured as a genial joining of keyboards and acoustic guitar embrace the taciturn verse sections and unhesitating rhythm guitar the equally reticent refrain.  Four and half minutes in and “Without Wings” ascends to hard rock guitars that cover multiple instrumental excursions, corroborating the unparalleled lead guitar work of Cummins and Stone.  Bloodgood could not do it any better.  Lyric snippet:

If leaving is forever
Remembering is half as long
Still the scars inside will linger
Though you’re home where you belong

For those who served on earth
As human as you and I
Shall mount on wings as eagles
And soar into the sky

Second ballad “Of Life And Love” represents four somber minutes of grand piano and orchestral keyboards as Ball accents a delicate side to her vocal abilities.  Feedback driven guitar compels the final instrumental minute and half.  Beautiful.

Albums lengthiest ensues in the eight minute “Intrepid”.  Nothing less a progressive masterpiece, song weaves its breadth switching between escalates passages to see bladed guitar take a paramount stance and others in which folk like acoustic guitar dutifully holds sway.  Crowning moments is the instantaneous Theocracy like refrain meticulously woven in sweeping fashion.  Instrumental interludes abound, including the hard charging first minute and half and extensive mid-point break to see divine harmonies and duel leads converge.  Lyric snippet:

Peace brother, we are of one heart
I have run the lonesome paths by your side
Through mist and fog, our sight is clearer
A great reward through strength in two

Peace O friend, my presence is true
I am here always, inside you
Your old life of fear passes away
My love for you is here to stay

“Love’s Illusion” takes an AOR semi ballad meets hard rock approach.  Plenty of acoustic guitar, moving vocals, not to fault commercial aesthetics and radio friendly hooks to match.  In other words, “Love’s Illusion” proves a real tearjerker, and a solid one at that despite being somewhat formula.  Stryper could easily do something like this.

Albums subsequent instrumental title track proves a romping power metal influenced stomper with medieval tinged rhythms and gallant riffing to go with all the technically intricate guitar work you could ask.  Again, the Cummins and Stone guitar team remains at the top of its game.

Dauntless closes strongly to the seven and half minute “Denouement” in which DeLorean once more puts its progressive affinity on full display.  Song breaks down into three parts.  First covers the instrumental first two and half minutes as shred style lead guitar morphs to bluesy riffing, while second decelerates to a melodic uniting of AOR laced acoustic guitar and soulful harmonies.  Third covers the final minute and half in returning to a mostly instrumental heading as upraised lead guitar weaves with layered vocal melodies.  Lyric snippet:

And I’ll stand on my own two feet
I am not who I used to be
Slowly changing, regenerating
And I will be whole again

Pure confusion clouds my thoughts, it’s hard to breathe
Chase away the memories, the way I used to be

Senseless hatred burns the inside wanting out
Free me of these piercing wounds, it’s time for me to heal

Dauntless equates to a very good mostly progressive and at times hard rock meets metal and others AOR predicated album.  It proves the perfect vehicle for the group to exhibit its choice musicianship and creative instrumental sound not to mention finely done female lead vocals.  Production might not be of a big budget variety but is clean enough for the intrinsic DeLorean tightness to shine thru.  For those interested in an album that effectively captures the turn of the century progressive music scene would be well served to track down a copy of Dauntless not to mention the groups download only 2008 follow up effort Edge Of Existence to feature new vocalist Rob Caudle.

Review by: Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: "Acropolis" (2:17), "Inferno" (5:30), "Onward" (6:11), "Exordium" (:47), "Without Wings" (7:00), "Of Life And Love" (4:00), "Intrepid" (7:48), "Love’s Illusion" (5:38), "Dauntless" (3:22), "Denouement" (7:30)

Musicians
Ruth Ball - Lead Vocals
Dan Cummins - Guitars
Johnathon Stone - Guitars
Jeremy Clark - Bass
Adam Satterwhite - Drums