Musical Style: Melodic Hard Rock	Produced By: Alessandro Del Vecchio & Michael Sweet
Record Label: Frontiers SRL	Country Of Origin: USA & Italy
Year Released: 2023	Artist Website:
Tracks: 11	Rating: 85%
Running Time: 46:09

Return Me To Light, the November Of 2023 Frontiers Music SLR debut full length from the Soledriver project of vocalist Michael Sweet and guitarist, bassist and keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio, emphasizes equal parts melodic hard rock and finely honed AOR.  With drummer Michele Sanna rounding out The Return Me To Light lineup, Soledriver traces to the pandemic when Del Vecchio was asked by Frontiers to compose a collaboration song to include multiple artists from its roster.  He proceeded to reach out to Sweet and subsequent to keeping in touch, Sweet recommended the two record an album that would ‘capture the melodic side of his singing and songwriting’ (referencing the groups press material).  Upshot is a ‘melodic (and) anthemic (album) with a deep and spiritual lyrical message’ in which ‘passion, fire and depth all melted into the essence of these songs’ (again, the groups press material either way).

The Italian born Del Vecchio is best known for his metal and hard rock collaborations with Jørn Lande, Revolution Saints, Hardline, Ted Poley, Kelly Keeling, Mat Sinner, Edge Of Forever and others.  He also works as an in-house producer for Frontiers from his Ivorytears Music Works Studio north of Milan.  Sweet, obviously, needs little if any introduction as front man and guitarist for Stryper, having recorded eleven full length studio albums and two live albums with the yellow and black bedecked four-piece.  His solo work stands out equally, with eight additional albums to his credit as does his side projects, including three albums with George Lynch (Dokken) as part of Sweet & Lynch and one other with guitarist Tracii Guns under the Sunbomb moniker.

Soledriver has invited well-deserved comparison to Journey, Foreigner, Survivor, Toto and Loverboy, although in my opinion Guardian, Fear Not and Novella warrant equal consideration.  Hence, opening cut “Rise Again” with its accenting keyboards, smooth AOR laced vocal melodies and big hook chorus to draw in on initial play.  Sweet sings with heart, guts and passion, while Del Vecchio lends rhythm and lead guitar in complementary amounts.  Lyric snippet:

Don’t blame yourself or compromise
You’ve got the chance
This is your time

To rise again
In a world that never mends
It carries you
And always spins
It’s waiting there for you
To rise again

With its musical stage set, album moves on to “Anymore” with a seventies influenced sound yielding an earthy mid-tempo disposition and hints of organ to go in hand.  Verses slow to a near standstill to lucidly played guitar with refrain contrasting from an added forward demeanor as keyboards lighten the backdrop.

“Pieces Of Forever” returns to upbeat territory with a brighter, more crystalline sound.  Traces of blues separate in the process, as found in the soulful backing vocals and shuffling presence to Del Vecchio’s concise bass and rhythm guitar work.  I particularly take to manner in which piano sets an echoing tone.  Lyric snippet:

Wherever I go
Your spirit is with me
When I go blind
You are my eyes to see

Everyday You restore my faith
In every way I need You to stay
Just when I’m thinking of giving up
You bring me back to life

“Hope’s Holding You” ominously begins to piano and classical keyboards.  At just the moment you think it is a ballad, song picks up at once to an eighties commercial hard rock vibe - I detect a grooving Bon Jovi-ish feel throughout - in upholding some of the albums most vibrant energy and willful hooks.  It cannot be understated the skillful lead guitar work.  Lyric snippet:

In a world that’s drifting
You have to hold on
Never stop believing
That your faith will make you strong

Every morning, every night
Some are dark, and some are bright
In the storm
There’s a Light
That’s guiding every way

Albums shortest at three and half minutes, “Spinning Wheel” comes across in form of a semi-ballad.  Piano and feedback carry the opening instrumental moments ahead of the song morphing into a bass heavy plodder with a somber melody and lower register vocals to match.  Albums crystal clear production realizes in the process.

The laid-back sentiments carry over to “Out Of The Dark”, albeit in a heavier rocking format - rhythm guitar plays the fuller role - with classic rock twinges, noting the occasional Hammond B3.  Every bit pronounced low-end groove aligns with soulful vocal vestiges to build further upon the commercial melody to command.  Lyric snippet:

Out of the dark
Into the light
I’m trying to live
Training to fight

It’s all up to me
And the answers I choose
I’ve made my decision to climb,
To embark out of the dark

“Eternal Flame” starts to a drum solo ahead of turning into a burnished hard rocker.  Song proves reserved in tempo, AOR focused with its relaxed guitar tinctures but also commercial when factoring its decided keyboard edges and made for radio refrain.  Lyric snippet:

I’ve made my choice now
And I’m on a narrow road
I know that You are holding me
And that You’ve turned
My world to gold

If I’m lost inside the darkness
I know I’ll always see Your light

“To Be Saved” ups impetus with added guitar driven aspects.  It bristles and snarls from the get go, settling down at the start of its verse sections only to recapture the unabashed fortitude persevering forward as hook driven capabilities end up raised on high.  This one would sound at home on any early Stryper album.  Lyric snippet:

I’ve heard about Your strength
I’ve read about Your grace
You know the hairs upon my head
Every line that’s written on my face

I see the blood my sins have bled
The holes inside my heart and head
I won’t lay down or walk away
I’m begging to be saved

Albums title track approaches AOR from a darker stance.  “Return Me To Light” proves a varied piece, swarthy with calmer moments decelerating to a tempered pace but equally somber in terms of more forward passages picking up force in muscular fashion.  When further factoring the generous hook basis, Sweet & Lynch come to mind.

A return to up-tempo on “Soul Inside”, a bristling explosion of spirited hard rock interwoven with invigorating harmonies and equally fitting blues based underpinnings.  The adept Soledriver musicianship reveals in the process, as Del Vecchio’s moody bass aligns with Sanna’s technical drum fortitude.  Lyric snippet:

You’re made in the image
Of the One who is most high
Take a look inside
And you will find

There is a way, a door in sight
Another round, another fight
Bring your fear, into the light
See the soul inside

“Wounded” closes the album as a classic wave your lighter in the air power ballad.  Airy keyboards and crystalline piano lead the way alongside melodic guitar harmonies and Sweet’s equally moving vocals to make a commercial statement.  I see this one being a force on FM radio in another era.

There is a great deal to like on Souldriver debut Return Me To Light: Sweet and Del Vecchio form an impeccable vocal and guitar duo; mature and consistent songwriting with no skip buttons; production speaks of the professional.  Of equal note are the inspiring lyrics, which prove it is possible to communicate intelligently the faith without hitting the listener over the head.  The underrated gold font over a black backdrop cover tops things off. Return Me To Light comes highly recommended for fans of eighties AOR and melodic hard rock in its varying forms.

Review by Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “Rise Again” (4:42), “Anymore” (4:31), “Pieces Of Forever” (4:13), “Hope’s Holding You” (5:00), “Spinning Wheel” (3:41), “Out Of The Dark” (4:05), “Eternal Flame” (4:02), “To Be Saved” (3:49), “Return Me To Light” (3:54), “Soul Inside” (3:59), “Wounded” (4:13)

Musicians
Michael Sweet - Lead Vocals
Alessandro Del Vecchio - Guitars, Bass & Keyboards
Michele Sanna - Drums