Eton Kingsdale: Vocals
Warren Grey: Guitar & Backing
Saun Wallsberry: Sax
Robin Anderson: Bass guitar & Backing
Jimmy Ace: Drums & Backing
Jack Spacey: Keys & Backing Mix and Master: Alcora.
Songs written by Stanislaw Kirner & Elian de Montcorbier. Cover artwork for CD version by Peter Cox.
So! I was actually looking at the review for another band through The Rock Company (D’Ercole, coming next month) and stumbled across this one. My thought process was kind of ‘AOR Rock, how interesting…but it’s been out on CD since September 17, so maybe not…but the music is something I like…and my editor Mark will like the cover (LOL) so I will get away with it!
Let’s be honest, an AOR album like this is unlikely to send those wanting to change the world running to their reviewer stations. However, a bit like reading one of those books that don’t require a lot of deep thinking to read – but you can’t resist turning the pages – this absolutely has its place. It’s place is driving in an open top tourer through the US with the road open ahead and a couple of good friends sitting with you. Listening to AOR is a bit like a guilty pleasure for me and as I was feeling low – here we go!
8 songs running to just over 28 minutes, release on CD September 17, 2025.
“Walking the Streets” is a dose of pop rock, one of those seventies feeling tracks that would form some of the soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy. Big hair, guitars and a confident strut about it.
“Old Age Rebellion” is another song about getting older (I’m not there yet guys!) – and it does fine for the album, but it kind of came and went as a track for me.
“Home of the Brave” introduces a little touch of the blues into the sound. We are walking the streets again which lyrically confused me after the previous track of the same name. Eton Kingsdale gives a strong vocal performance and the guitars deliver a slightly rougher edged track.
“The Man Who Didn’t Fit” features a great sax opening and does a few different things. It is the sort of song that I would relax into on the radio while I was cooking, and it has a humour in the lyrics about being that old dog on the block!
“The Promised Land” takes us instantly into the world of cruising down a lonely road with the radio playing your favourite songs. It was the single and there is an accompanying video (below) that sums up things quite nicely! If you were a fan of eighties AOR, Foreigner, Journey etc, then this is absolutely in your vein. It’s rock as we used to know it!
“When I Look in the Mirror” returns to a lighter pop rock feeling with a Summer feeling to it, even if the lyrics contemplate old age. It’s a song about being ourselves even when the face in the mirror doesn’t reflect what we would like to be. It has a sort of humour in there, and sings of resilience in the face of getting older.
“Heart to Hide” is a ballad, and rather a good one! I liked the acoustic guitar work and the vocal performance. The emotive connection between lyric and instrumental is clear and you can tell when the vocalist connects with the message.
“New Tomorrow” has those big eighties keys along with an inbuilt bounce (a bit like the girl on the cover!). – “you took my hand, forget the sorrow” – it is one of those songs that plays along and you sing along to. One of those!
The Promised Land is a breezy slice of nostalgia, the sort of record that reminds you why AOR once filled arenas: it’s easy to digest, occasionally uplifting, and has just enough sparkle to make you smile. Think of it as comfort food rock—reliable, familiar, and sometimes exactly what you need.
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You can stream the album here
Bandcamp link here
By Anna-Louise Burgess
Hello there, great review but do you know that there are 14 songs on the cd? I only see 8 reviews. Just to let you know!