Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock	Produced By:
Record Label: Roxx Records	Country Of Origin: Varies
Year Released: 2024	Artist Website:
Tracks: 11	Rating: 85%
Running Time: 48:44

From blues based hard rock to straightforward heavy metal to power metal, the Rainforce April of 2024 Roxx Records sophomore album Almost Holy offers something for almost all hard music fans.  The multinational five piece follows on the heels of its 2019 four song sophomore EP Rock And Roll and 2017 debut full length Lion’s Den (both also Roxx), albeit not without some lineup changes.  With founding members Swiss rhythm guitarist Andy La Morte, Maltese lead vocalist Jordan Cutajar (Nomad Son) and German drummer Benjamin Mann (Power Of God) continuing to solidify the Rainforce lineup, the album introduces newcomers in Swiss bassist Jan Thomas (Pÿlon) and lead guitarist Michael Piranio (Ephermera’s Party).

Placing Almost Holy alongside previous releases reveals the group maintaining its continuity but taking heaviness to the next level into metal territory.  Yes, Rainforce stays true to its hard rock roots - I can see fans of early nineties Bride and X-Sinner embracing Almost Holy - but also branches out into classic metal not unlike Saint and Barren Cross in addition to power metal akin to Seventh Avenue.  Regardless of direction, Rainforce maintains its high standards in terms of songwriting, album features some of the group’s finest material to date, while placing equal emphasis on high-energy guitars - Piranio plays a key role in this regard - a driving low end, and gritty mid-ranged vocals.

Embodying all of the above is albums opening title track.  “Almost Holy” proves a brazen hard rocker, with distorted feedback to start ensued by a steady drum presence aligning with the forthright mid-paced tempo and understated hooks to command (sort of like X-Sinner).  All the while Piranio shines with his incredible guitar pyrotechnics.  Lyric snippet:

I’m not better than anyone else
I win, I lose, I’m wise, a fool
Sometimes a slave
Sometimes a king
Cant’ buy my place in heaven

I am a sinner
And I plead for redemption
Won’t point my finger
At other sinners

Almost Holy features what in my opinion are seven addition great songs including “Just Another Song”.  No, it is not’ just another song’ but rather one of albums finest with a decelerated bluesy allure and distinct melody to draw in on first listen aligning with Cutajar’s perfectly placed earthy vocals.  Albums mirror like production stands out in the process, noting the breathing bass presence and crystalline leads.    

“Far Away From Home” reveals the Rainforce heavier side.  It powers from the get go to forwardly placed guitar, galloping ahead to double kick drum and heavy set rhythms but not forsaking the groups penchant for composing material that hits hard but does not lack compelling hooks.  Mann puts any doubters to rest with his dominant drum performance.  Saint fans rejoice.  Lyric snippet:

Stand up for your faith
Stand up for what’s right
Let’s proclaim the truth
There is nothing to lose

I’m far away from home
A stranger in a stranger land
I’m am homeless in this town
But I am Heaven-bound

“Fortress Of Hope” finds Rainforce lightening to ballad territory.  It proves a good one at that, with a classically tinctures acoustic basis covering its span, but with periodic bluesy rhythm guitar interspersed throughout.  A gravelly mid-ranged duet between La Morte and Cutajar lends further value.  Classic Bride ballad “Sweet Louise” (off Kinetic Faith from 1991) comes to mind.

Back to traditional metal with “John The Baptist”, a driving rhythm guitar and double kick drum mauler to find Rainforce at the top of its game.  Verse sections are surprisingly laid back, tempo approached the soothingly mid-paced, but refrain draws in with its unremitting verve, exuding the explosive energy to embolden the grave hooks at hand.  The lightning-like lead guitar brings to mind Rex Carroll (White cross).  Lyric snippet:

He walks in clothes of camel hair
As he crossed the desert sand
He would east locusts and wild honey
His hair is ragged and long
But this man has mission
He points the finger at someone
He announces the Messiah
As the bringer of mercy and truth

A Euro power metal direction manifests on “In The Fires”.  With guest vocalist Jonas Ambuhl shining with his moving classic tenor to mid-ranged vocal qualities, song revels in light symphonic elements and further double kick drum but does not fail to entice in revealing the same type of forthright melody allowing albums finer material to shine.  An extended instrumental run tops things off.

This reviewer’s choice track is the six minute “Every Tear Will Be Dried”.  It flows perfectly its span in emotional mid-paced fashion, intrinsic to heartfelt rhythms of a capturing nature and melodic riffs reaching for the enticing in unveiling a light progressiveness.  The exquisite melody to separate refuses to depart with repeat play.  I particularly take to the time signature to the atmospheric over the final minute.  Lyric snippet:

Souls are wandering
Through the fog
Haunted by their past
Straying around
In the garden of doubt
Their wound never heal completely

Broken hearts
And shattered dreams
Chains do not dissolve by themselves

Every single tear will be dried

Christmas metal piece “Silent Night” is another solid cut.  Song takes a bluesy form walking a fine line between Bride and Red Sea, awash with grit and soul in reaching for the heartfelt but not forsaking a heavier rocking foundation as guitar team of La Morte and Piranio stand apart with near mesmerizing rhythms and leads of a searing variety.  Again, heightened melody will force you to return for repeat play.

A notch below but still good is “Time To Rise”, a melodic hard rocker with an AOR bent.  It is albums most commercial home to an eighties commercial edge to the riffs and hooks - do I detect a faint hint of Stryper? - but it also fails to forsake the groups inherent youthful energy.  Cool distorted bass to close things out.

“Rockin’ Through The Night” is first of two songs in which I skip.  Beyond the clichéd title, I find it a predictable hard rocker with too much of a generic connect the dots feel for my taste.  I do appreciate, however, the punk-ish feel to guitars.  Likewise, I do not take to “I Believe” as albums shortest but also most plain in lacking the notable hooks separating albums finer material.  That said lyrics do not fail to stand out:

I believe that You created the universe
You alone hold the key to eternity
I believe that You gave me the gift of life
You know my past and what my future brings

I believe that Your words are the only truth
I rely on Your pledges in the bible
However humanity fails
Time and time again
You still have the world in Your hands

I could not be more excited about the better Almost Holy material, noting how top tracks “Just Another Song”, “Far Away From Home”, “In The Fires”, “Every Tear Will Be Dried” and “Silent Night” reflect the Rainforce musical maturity garnered from one album to the next.  Production is equally laudable as is band performance.  Only thing holding the album back and preventing a higher score are a couple skip buttons.  Overall, if a fan of previous Rainforce releases or any form of gritty hard rock and metal then Almost Holy is certain not to disappoint. 

Review by Andrew Rockwell 

Track Listing: “Almost Holy” (4:00), “Rockin’ Through The Night” (4:10), “Just Another Song” (4:41), “Far Away From Home” (4:51), “Fortress Of Hope” (4:41), “John The Baptist” (4:19), “Time To Rise” (3:28), “In The Fires” (4:58), “Every Tear Will Be Dried” (6:04), “Silent Night” (4:37), “I Believe” (2:52)

Musicians
Jordan Cutajar - Lead Vocals
Andy La Morte - Rhythm Guitar
Michael Piranio - Lead Guitar
Jan Thomas - Bass
Benjamin Mann - Drums

Guest Musicians
Jonas Ambuhl - Lead Vocals
Mick Jelinic - Lead Guitar
Felipe Vicente - Lead Guitar
Albert Bell - Bass