Customer Reviews

II

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Although missing Neal Schon replaced by Josh Ramos another legendary guitarist of the Storm, Hardline's second album after a ten year break is as great as ever.

Hardline was originally a band project by Geoli Brothers collaborated with Neal Schon who liked the band's concept and its hard-edged sound. Their 1992 debut album "Double Eclipse" is one of the finest melodic rock albums ever made. Now Neal is busy as a key member of rebanded Journey and with a number of rock projects including his own. Neal gladly wrote a song for them "the Gift" featuring his impressive guitar solo. My #1 pick from the album is "Y" catchy hard-edged song fit for huge radio airplay. Pop rock song "Only A Night" , excellent ballad "Face The Night", dramatic power ballad "Hey Girls" are excellent as well.

Overall they still live up to their legend and will attract a huge number of 80's rock fans' attention for sure.

AFTER 10 YEARS, YOU'D THINK THAT A BAND WHO PUT OUT AN AWESOME CD IN 1992 WOULD BE LACKING A LITTLE BIT WHEN RECORDING A CD 10 YEARS LATER! I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM TO GET BETTER!
THIS CD IS REALLY GOOD! THE FIRST SONG GRABS YOU BY THE PILLS AND DOESN'T LET GO THROUGH THE WHOLE CD...."HOLD ME DOWN" ROCKS AND IS A PERFECT SONG TO START WITH AND THEN "Y" JUST KICKS!!!
THAT SONG WOULD BE A BIG RADIO HIT IF THIS CD WAS RELEASED IN THE U.S.
THE CD NEVER QUITS, THERE'S NOT ONE SONG I WOULD SKIP TO HEAR THE NEXT...IT'S THE KIND OF CD THAT GETS BETTER AND BETTER EVERY TIME YOU PLAY IT...I CAN'T GET IT OUT OF MY SUV CD PLAYER.
I HAD TO BURN 2 MORE COPIES, ONE FOR WORK AND ONE FOR THE HOUSE.
GET THE CD, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTTED.

Whoa! Once again, an awesome collection of hard rock tunes on this second effort by the band that could have been bigger than Bon Jovi. They were just a couple years too late with Double Eclipse. "II" was going to be titled "Hyperspace," but the band wanted a simpler title for the second recording. "II" is more aggressive than the melodic Double Eclipse. The opening track, "Hold Me Down," is perfectly placed to set the tone for the rest of the CD. Next is "Y," another aggressive, yet radio-friendly song that has some melodies close to "Blind Revolution Mad" from Winger's Pull CD. Following "Y" is "Paralyzed," which is one of the more melodic songs on the CD. "Face The Night" is next and is the band's "80's metal" heavy ballad of the CD. Nice melodies along with heavy guitars makes this one of the CD's highlights. "Do Or Die" follows "Face The Night," and quickly gets you back into aggresive mode once again. The next three songs, "Hey Girl," "Only A Night," and "Your Eyes" sound as if they were written during the Gioeli brothers' Brunette days. "Only A Night" is the CD's softest song, almost all acoustic. The next two songs, "Weight" and "Way It Is Way It Goes" are the two best songs of the CD. Heavy, aggressive, and melodic. The last song is "This Gift," featuring former Hardline and current Journey guitarist Neal Schon. The trademark Neal Schon sound is evident on this one, and it closes the CD with style. If you own Double Eclipse, why don't you have this one yet? If you've never heard of Hardline, well, you're in for a real treat because these guys are incredible!

Hardline:

Johnny Gioeli - Vocals
Joey Gioeli - Guitars
Josh Ramos - Guitars
Michael T. Ross - Keyboards
Bobby Rock - Drums
Christopher Maloney - Bass

Hello! After ten years from the recording of the masterpiece"Double Eclipse" Hardline still has what it takes!! Delivers excellent ballads and some cathy rockn' rythmns! Mr. John's vocals are spectacular....from the very first track, you'll be hooked.Plain and simply: It's just GREAT rock and Roll Hey ya can't miss with such talented musicans! Do yourself a HUGE favor and purchase this 2nd materpiece by HARDLINE! Thanks! Miss Kelly

What a great comeback,even without Neil Schonn. Great songs,great guitar. I have always loved Double Eclipse and this is just as good. I am playing it every day at the moment. It's already one of my most played i-pod albums. Just buy it, it's awesome!

This is the best of all the hardline CD's I have. Many great songs. Seller shipped quickly and it was recieved in great condition.

II is the second album by Melodic Rock band Hardline featuring brothers Johnny Gioeli and Joey Gioeli.
This new album features more of a heavier sound than the previous "Double Eclipse" record and it features newcomer guitarist Josh Ramos replacing Neal Schon's place after he left in late 1992. In the same year, the band headlined the Gods Festival in Bradford, England in June 2002 and the show was also released on CD & DVD in 2003.

1. Hold Me Down
2. Y
3. Paralyzed
4. Face The Night
5. Do Or Die
6. Hey Girl
7. Only A Night
8. Your Eyes
9. Weight
10. Way It Is, Way It Goes
11. This Gift

"Do Or Die", "Face The Night" and "Your Eyes" are remakes of early Brunette demos [a glam rock band from the 80's featuring Johnny Gioeli and Joey Gioeli).

It only took a decade, but Hardline finally followed their 1992 debut Double Eclipse in 2002 with the appropriately titled II. The Gioeli brothers are still on board, but Journey members Neal Schon and Deen Castronovo are notably absent. Their replacements are Josh Ramos (ex-Two Fires) and Bobby Rock (ex-Nelson), respectively.

Obviously this isn't the same lineup that recorded the hair metal-ish Double Eclipse, so it's not exactly realistic to expect another album full of songs like "Hot Cherie" and "Rhythm from a Red Car." Musical tastes have changed, and so has Hardline. II is a first rate melodic rock album though, and one that's more polished and mature than you might have expected. It's still a high energy rock album, but the songwriting is a little stronger and the overall tone is just a bit more...adult. You can't help but miss Neal Schon's guitar playing, but Ramos is no slouch, serving up some wickedly catchy riffs and melodies.

Oh, and for those of you complaining about Johnny Gioelli's voice; the guy has been singing steadily with German guitar virtuoso Axel Rudi Pell for years, and he sounds as good as ever on this album. He is a bit more restrained than he was on Double Eclipse, but again that owes more towards the change in musical direction than any alleged deterioration of his voice.

I can't see how anyone who liked Double Eclipse wouldn't like II as well, but apparently that's the case. If you can be open-minded about it, I say give it a shot. For me it's a worthy follow-up to Double Eclipse, and proof positive that Hardline is still a major force in the melodic rock scene. Unfortunately it would take Hardline the better part of another decade to release a follow-up to II, 2009's excellent Leaving the End Open.

The first Hardline CD, Double Eclipse is excellent, and this 2nd effort, Hardline II, picks up where they left off with the vocals and band in perfect form and leaves you yearning for more Hardline Hard-rock Anthems. My favorite songs from Hardline II are Hold Me Down, Y, Paralyzed, Do or Die, Your Eyes, Way It Is, Way It Goes. Also, from their 1st Double Eclipse CD are, Rhythm in a Red Car, Hot Cherie, and Everything and from the 2009 Leaving the End Open CD, the songs, Voices, Falling Free, Pieces of Puzzles, In This Moment, and Before This are all very good and recommended as a buy for any rock'n roller!

The first Hardline CD, Double Eclipse is excellent, and this 2nd effort, Hardline II, picks up where they left off with the vocals and band in perfect form and leaves you yearning for more Hardline Hard-rock Anthems. My favorite songs from Hardline II are Hold Me Down, Y, Paralyzed, Do or Die, Your Eyes, Way It Is, Way It Goes. Also, from their 1st Double Eclipse CD are, Rhythm in a Red Car, Hot Cherie, and Everything and from the 2009 Leaving the End Open CD, the songs, Voices, Falling Free, Pieces of Puzzles, In This Moment, and Before This are all very good and recommended as a buy for any rock'n roller!