| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2023 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 12 / 10 | Rating: 75% / 85% |
| Running Time: 49:37 / 48:24 |
Soldiers Of Light marries straight on metal resolve with melodic hard rock sensibilities. The project traces to founding member and vocalist and multi-instrumentalist (rhythm and lead guitar, bass and keyboardist) Shane Freeman, whom is better known as front man of the 70’s to early 80’s band Stutz and for recording two albums under the Michael moniker. Debut Michael album The Battle Rages On (80% Angelic Warlord review and initially released on R.A.G.E. Records in 1995 but rereleased on Roxx Records in 2020) and sophomore effort II (85% and released on Roxx Records in 2020) trend eighties influenced AOR and melodic hard rock territory. Soldiers Of Light, on the other hand, ups the ante musically by diversifying into straightforward and melodic heavy metal while retaining the commercial nuances to Michael on its May of 2023 Roxx Records releases Defenders and Where Are You Going.
The Soldiers Of Light liner notes state that once the group disbanded, Freeman continued to write songs and decided to record them in 2021, which resulted in the completion of Defenders and Where Are You Going in the summer of 2022. The two separate as distinct projects. With Freeman and rhythm and lead guitarist T.T. Miller being the common denominators between each release, Defenders features drummer Jesse Stown (in addition to a guest bass appearance by Dave Mast on one song), while Where Are You Going includes keyboardist Todd Waites (in addition to a guest drum appearance by Bill Whiticre on one song). Production also allows the two to stand apart, with Defenders giving prominence to a superior drum sound and Where Are You Going firmer and weightier rhythm guitar tones.
Defenders
Defenders serves to introduce the at times metal and others melodic based Soldiers Of Light sound. I find the group at its best when making its metal side the focal point, starting with opener “Where’s The Truth”, thickly weighted with deliberate riffs and foreboding momentum of a Saint like capacity, but also including “It’s Your Life”, a decisively driven cruncher transitioning between bass impelled verse sections and laid back refrain bolstered by snarling rhythm guitar. Commonality between the two is pinpointing the grainy, mid-ranged vocals of Freeman, who reminds somewhat of Larry Worley (Love Life, Fear Not).
Even heavier is “Madness” from trending darker, straight on metal territory with a hammering rhythm section and harshly chanted backing vocals, and albums title track, with a power metal bent distinct to an inspiring tempo and scintillatingly smooth ‘defenders of righteousness’ refrain. Helping the two stand-apart is ample portions of Stown’s double kick drum.
Helping tie albums heavier material with that more melodic is “This Is Now” from resonating the razor edged hulking in addition to a refuse to depart melody with a light pop basis. Am I out of line to invite a Stryper comparison?
My favorite of the melodic hard rock material is “Jesus Is The Truth” with its basic but not simplistic formula highlighting AOR vestiges awash in a joyous celebration of catchy melodies and inspiring disposition. Equally notable is “Love Is The Key” and “Follow Me” with former a guitar crunching hard rocker intrinsic to a commercial, radio friendly melody and latter more reserved in pointing to classic rock with its deep guitar harmonies and bluesy foundation. In the thick of things is classic ballad “Baby I’m Gonna Love You” home to needed trimmings in the form of acoustic guitar, soulful vocal melodies and bluesy signatures pointing to Bon Jovi.
Defenders also encompass three songs in which I struggle, “Shake My Heart”, “Give It All For You” and “Hangin’ On”. Not that In no way are they bad but rather lack the engaging qualities to albums better material that might draw me in with repeat play. At the very least three potential ‘skip buttons’ play no small role in the final 75% score when assessing Defenders in its entirety. Whereas the album is somewhat spotty in terms of consistency, its stronger material easily rates in the 80% to 85% range. That said I would also liked to have seen it cut by a couple tracks to remove some chaff.
Final Verdict: 75%
Where Are You Going
Carried over on Where Are You Going is that at times heavier and others melodic trending to Defenders but with lengthier and more complex songwriting. A good indicator of such is opener “You And Me”, six minutes of entrenched guitars and accessible nuances aligned with prominent keyboards and Freeman’s ever-present earthy vocals. “Now I Know” draws upon a similar basis but with bouncing tom toms and added guitar presence (I particularly enjoy the occasional spoken word portions), as does “When You Cry” with its classy AOR flavorings and smooth vocal melodies (I find it somewhat formula but still good).
Where Are You Going shines on its two exquisite ballads. “My Hearts Flyin’ Free” takes an acoustic approach, rooted in a firm bass founding, orchestration and layered vocal melodies, while “Together We Will Ride” reveals a heavier rocking slant, also acoustic but home to piano alongside an eminent melody and rhythm guitar to taste.
Some of my favorite Where Are You Going moments involve its two exquisite ballads. “My Hearts Flyin’ Free” takes an acoustic approach to the form, rooted in a firm bass founding, orchestration and layered vocal melodies, while “Together We Will Ride” reveals a heavier rocking slant, also acoustic but home to piano alongside an eminent melody and rhythm guitar to taste.
“You’re The One” and “You Need Love” play a transitional role in linking the albums melodic material to that heavier akin to “This Is Now” from Defenders. The two function as companion tracks in this regard (fittingly placed back to back in the track listing), with each shorter in the three and half minute range and fundamental to equally parts staunch momentum and pop based hooks.
I find the heavier Where Are You Going cuts to stand out best. “Deceived” entices from this standpoint to see an opening drum solo give way to heavy set but catchy riffs and unfathomable low end, while “Tattooed For Death” impresses equally as hauntingly melodic with ominous backing vocals and eerie keyboards aligning for a poignant aptitude. The two serve to highlight the technical guitar leads and accurate rhythm guitar to Freeman and T.T. Mills. “War” is albums showcase track in opening to fitting air raid sirens ahead of morphing into an aggressive six minutes of the curtly woven accenting a succinct refrain and power metal laced instrumental moments, including the final jam based minute.
When placed alongside, Where Are You Going includes a more consistent package of songs than Defenders in light of no skip buttons. When further factoring strong guitar production, it equates to a well-deserved 85% score.
Final Verdict: 85%
Summary
Best manner in which to close is to thank Roxx Records for releasing such a high volume of material from Shane Freeman in light of both Michael and Soldiers Of Light. Yes, Soldiers Of Light is a heavier more metal-based project - whether traditional or melodic - but Michael is not to be overlooked in terms of its AOR signatures. It is worth reinforcing that half of the II songs represent some of the finest AOR songwriting this reviewer has heard. Overall, Soldiers Of Light is quite consistent in that out of 22 songs, I take to at least 19. Moving forward, I hope to hear more from Shane Freeman in the future when factoring his abilities as songwriting, vocalist and musician.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing (Defenders): “Where’s The Truth” (4:18), “Shake My Heart” (3:32), “It’s Your Life” (4:10), “Love Is The Key” (3:49), “Give It All For You” (3:51), “Madness” (4:27), “Baby I’m Gonna Love You” (5:26), “Follow Me” (3:51), “Jesus Is Truth” (3:42), “Hangin’ On” (3:57), “This Is Now” (4:19), “Defenders” (4:13)
Musicians
Shane Freeman - Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Bass & Keyboards
T.T. Mills - Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Jesse Stown - Drums
Dave Mast - Bass (on “Baby I’m Gonna Love You)
Track Listing (Where Are You Going): “You And Me” (6:00), “When You Cry” (4:32), “Now I Know” (4:23), “Deceived” (5:00), “My Heart’s Flyin’ Free” (4:43), “War” (5:52), “Tattooed For Death” (4:55), “You’re The One” (3:36), “You Need Love” (3:42), “Together We Will Ride” (5:38)
Musicians
Shame Freeman - Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar
T.T. Mills - Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Todd Waites - Keyboards
Bill Whiticre - Bass (on “Hearts Flyin’ Free)
