| Musical Style: Melodic Hard Rock | Produced By: Jean Funes |
| Record Label: Pride & Joy Music | Country Of Origin: Varies |
| Year Released: 2025 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 43:05 |
Everything about Hearts On Fire July of 2025 Pride & Joy Music sophomore album Signs & Wonders says melodic hard rock meets AOR. Commercial melodies and beguiling hooks of a radio friendly nature define songwriting. Soaring and abounding lead vocals align with refined vocal melodies. Congenial rhythm guitar and felicitous lead guitar join flattering but not overriding keyboards. Polished production brings out the best in each of the previously noted.
Hearts On Fire remains the project of Honduras based founding member, guitarist and songwriter Jean Funes, whom got his start with Codigo Eterno and its pair of modern tinged melodic hard rock albums in Codigo Eterno and Canten La Tierra Y El Cielo from 2008 and 2011, respectively. He later moved on to Sound Of Eternity and its Melodic Rock Records 2014 debut Visions & Dreams ahead of forming Hearts On Fire and recording its 2018 initial offering Call Of Destiny (also MRR). Signs & Wonders carries over the same roster as Call Of Destiny, noting drummer Joel Mejia, bassist Dennis Ward and keyboardist Eric Ragno, with exception of Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Royal Hunt, Joshua Perahia, Reign Of Glory) supplanting Richard Andermyr on lead vocals.
Whereas I hesitate to label Hearts On Fire a Christian band and Signs & Wonders a Christian album, liner notes thank ‘our Father in Heaven for making this possible and for the inspiration to make music. To Him be the glory always and forever’. Lyrics are correspondingly positive in reflecting a strong Christian worldview.
“Signs In The Sky” gets album off to a strong start. Sustained its breadth by an upraised tempo, song radiates to symphonic keyboards and essential guitar as Boals compels with his at times soaring and others gritty vocal style. Hooks complement by imparting to the upstanding feel. Lyric snippet:
Look for the signs in the sky
Run to your hiding place
Look for the signs in the sky
The stars are falling tonight
We’re close to the edge
In the master plan
It’s the end of the age
Just a matter of time
“Collective Mind” settles down to a weightier mid-tempo form. Rhythm guitar affects, for instance, in near metal fashion and low end imparts with arduous authority. The jovial ‘I’m not wired to the collective mind’ refrain builds upon the borderline infectious allure. Either of the first two songs would sound at home on any AdrianGale album.
“Lights And Shadows” ascertains from a pop-based AOR formula. Needless to say it works, as silky keyboards play a flattering role - the work of Eric Ragno is spot on - and bluesy rhythms build upon the authentic perspective. Despite the lightsome configuring, guitar still plays an exact role.
“Stay In This Moment” imparts from an AOR tinged semi-ballad standpoint. Temper is unsettled as ardent vestiges take hold of the verse sections, with vehement harmonies commanding the equally impactful refrain. As always, Funes’ skilled lead guitar work plays to the strength of the song.
Minute long guitar feedback instrumental “Blood Moon” gives way to “Eleventh Hour”. Song revisits heavier territory, with auspicious guitar riffs and salutary bass of Ward combining to evoke of the unyielding- again, impression is hard rock touching upon melodic metal. Lead guitar aligns with the imperious feel. Lyric snippet:
Signs and wonders
Across the earth
The seal is broken
It’s the appointed time
There’s a blood moon in the sky tonight
Can you see the writings on the wall
Time is running out
Close to the midnight hour
Can you see the signs?
It’s the eleventh hour
The heavier focus carries over to “World Torn In Two” but in a mid-paced package. With open-air guitar soon joined by symphonic keyboards, song takes a darker slant as Mejia presses with his rugged timekeeping and harmonies touch upon the severe. Refrain contrasts with an animated configuring.
“Rearview Mirror” is one of my favorites with its leave the past behind theme. Music is strong as the prose, with a melancholic if not fervid presence foremost but also a courser mid-tempo stance in line with the bluesy angle to edict- Boals plays in innate role in this capacity. I see this one being a ‘wave your lighter in the air’ concert favorite. Lyric snippet:
Don’t waste your time
Don’t try to understand
Don’t spend your nights
Trying to forget
All the things you lived
Make you who you are
Were you are right now
It’s where to have to be
“Restless Heart” is lone song in which I struggle. Perhaps it is the three and half minute abridged length that prevents the song from establishing itself, or the fact hooks do not separate in the same embracing manner as many tracks here, but I tend to pass. That said, do not be dissuaded in that I see others embracing its guitar founded and upbeat contour.
Album returns to form with “Battlefield”. The song leaves impression as an uplifting hard rocker, innate to an enterprising temperament found in vigorous rhythm guitar, venturous harmonies and igniting lead guitar. The encouraging purpose carries over to lyrics:
That’s the way it goes
You need to understand
Keep the faith alive
You need to believe
Living on this battlefield
Living in this world gone mad
We all live to run the endless mile
We all fight to stay alive
Things close strongly to “Road To Eternity”, five and half minutes of laid back and reserved melodic rock smoothly flowing to atmospheric keyboards and delicate rhythm guitar that while not direct as some tracks here makes its presence felt all the same. The indelible mix allows a prodigious bass line to standout alongside sublime vocal melodies. Song decelerates for its equally relaxed instrumental moments. Lyric snippet:
And as the hands of time keep moving on and on
We’re getting closer and closer to going home
We’re on the road to eternity
We’re not here forever
Our souls will live for infinity
We’re not here to stay
Signs & Wonders represents the second album of quality melodic hard rock and AOR from Hearts On Fire. Ably done songwriting aligns with refined production and packaging. Solid support found in the grainy but melodic vocals of Boals alongside Funes’ tasteful guitar work and Ragno’s complementary keyboards. Overall, there is nothing to complain about in that Signs & Wonders is a solid work with consistent songwriting and positive lyrics. I look forward to hearing more from the group.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Signs & Wonders” (3:56), “Collective Mind” (3:50), “Lights And Shadows” (4:11), “Stay In This Moment” (4:31), “Blood Moon” (:57), “Eleventh Hour” (3:57), “World Torn In Two” (4:15), “Rearview Mirror” (4:06), “Restless Heart” (3:38), “Battlefield” (4:14), “Road To Eternity” (5:27)
Musicians
Mark Boals - Lead Vocals
Jean Funes - Guitars
Eric Ragno - Keyboards
Joel Mejia - Drums
Additional Musicians
Dennis Ward - Bass
