Customer Reviews

Trial By Fire

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I mean, sometimes you read some reviews and you try to figure out who could write such incredible things. This is a really strong album in my opinion and if Steve Perry had a great responsability in the making, well honor to him because this is a fantastic release and come back album. Too bad Steve left the band again. Don't have nothing with Augeri which sings well, but Perry is simply a legend. Going deep inside the album contents, in my opinion Trial by fire contains some true Journey classics. The first five tracks are perfect, simply perfect Journeyrama, love songs with a punch. Melody and energy. Perfect AOR. Then after those five songs obviously come some weaker songs but some other tunes are great too. Can't tame the lion for example or the titletrack. Second this album sports incredible contributions from all the guys in the band, Schon and Cain for example are at the top of their game. They never sounded so right. Perry has simply the best voice around in this kind of music. He is always touching, soulful, he communicates. He is one of a kind. He's magic. Maybe he cannot scream like he did in the past, so what? His voice is like a good old wine, it is fantastic to hear him still in the new millennium. In the end this album has tremendous quality in the sound department. It is recorded really really well, the overall sound is full, powerful but sophisticated. Guitars has been recorded in a fantastic way. I really love this album which for me is one of the best in the entire exceptional Journey discography. Steve Perry? .. well, his voice is simply fantastic.

Though it was short-lived,Journey's 1996 comeback "Trial By Fire" featured the classic trademark Steve Perry-led Journey sound of polished pop-rock(Message Of Love,Castles Burning,Can't Tame The Lion and the bonus track I Can See It In Your Eyes) and soulful power ballads(their last big hit When You Love A Woman,Don't Be Down On Me Baby,Easy To Fall and If He Should Break Your Heart)with some other things thrown in,like even a pop-reggae number Baby I'm A Leavin You.Sadly,this would be the final Journey album with Steve Perry.He was let go due to an injury and since then the band has been with two different lead singers(Steve Auguria and Jeff Scott Soto,namely),neither was able to fill the big hole in Perry's absence.This 2006 reissue contains a nice booklet,though unlike the other 2006 Journey reissues,there are no tour dates(for reasons said above).It also contains superb remastered sound which like Frontiers and Raised on Radio was done by Dave Donnelly at DNA Mastering.While it may not contain a "Don't Stop Believin" or an "Open Arms",Trial By Fire will satisfy many a Journey fan,as well as those of contemporay soft-rock.

The Japanese version of Trial By Fire has one more track then the U.S. release. It's called "I Can See It In Your Eyes" and it rocks! This song should have been kept on the U.S. release and replaced by another. But Over in the good ole U.S.A THE RECORDS COMPANIES FORGOT HOW TO ROCK OR ARE RUN BY CORPORATE SUCKA$$'S WHO GOT THERE A$$ES KICKED EVERYDAY BY HARD ROCK LOVERS AND THIS IS THEIR PAYBACK TO US!!! Hey whatever right????? Journey rocks and if your a die-hard having this cd with the bonus is well worth it!

One would think that after a ten year break certain bands would find it hard to make a decent comeback. Journey not only succeeds in their comeback, they do so with a grammy nomination and an album that I found to be very satisfying to the ear. Trial By Fire, released ten years after Raised On Radio proves that Journey is in fact one of the greatest bands in history. Steve Perry's vocals are absolutely fantastic as always, especially on "When You Love A Woman," which was nominated for a Grammy Award. Jonathan Cain's keyboards and background vocals are amazing, and Neal Schon - what is there to say but he is one of the truly amazing guitarists of our time. Ross Valory on bass, and Steve Smith returning on drums round out the most recognizable Journey lineups, and in my opinion the best.
The album is more of a subdued one, more slow-paced love songs such as "Still She Cries" and "When I Think Of You" highlight the album. However, it is "When You Love A Woman" that is the true gem of this record. The first time I heard this song I immediately fell in love with it, probably one of the greatest love songs I have ever heard. I would recommend Trial By Fire to any Journey fan, or any music fan for that matter. Journey is by far one of the best bands of all time, and this record shows why.

I've been a Journey fan since the age of 17. It is now, at 37 and after watching VH1 Behind the music featuring Journey, that I realized just how much I enjoy listening to the "REAL VOICE OF JOURNEY", Steve Perry. Trial by fires "When you love a women" is a true testiment of love between a husband and his wife and I dedicate this song to my husband of 11 years! Steve Perry you did it again. As always he sings from his soul and the listener is convinced that Steve has been down that road that he sings about!! At 52, his voice is a alittle older but wiser and still beautiful!! COME BACK STEVE. WE'LL BE WAITHING!!

"Trial by Fire" provides an eclectic collection of songs from the arena rockers based in San Francisco. While the ballad "When You Love a Woman" is a radio staple, there are alot of good songs to choose from. Some of my favorites are: "Easy to Fall"; "Still She Cries"; and the title track. Whether it was the time apart or changing musical tastes, I find this cd a more mature offering from the band. Steve Perry's vocals are still the best in the business, though it appears he has lost some range, and the band is as tight as ever. In fact, I really came to appreciate the drumming of Steve Smith the more I listened. While Steve Smith is more famous for being in Journey, he is a top-notch jazz drummer.

Such a fine reprieve and blast from the past in contrast to all the lame, trite and sickening "new" music. I am truly pleased and ecstatic to see a new release worthy of interest. This takes me back to the initial excitement and awe of Escape and Frontiers.

I have been a Journey fan FOREVER(at least since Steve Perry became lead vocalist). I think the music on this album is wonderful. Mr. Perry's voice is so calming and soothing,and songs like "Trial By Fire" ,"Colors of The Spirit",and "It's Just The Rain",are full of that typical Journey emotion they bring to their music. I was very happy to hear,that after so long,that they made another album. I hope and pray that they will continue to creat such wonderful music for a long time. If and when they stop,the music world will lose a great powerful voice and a wonderful source of music.

I have been a longtime fan of Journey, if not a Steve Perry mark, but I think I can do an honest take on this one. I don't know if it's as good as Escape was, but it's definitely better than Raised on Radio and possibly Fronteirs. Yes, Steve Perry's voice does sound a bit rougher and he has lost some highs, but even at 60-70% of what he once was, he's far better than any singer I hear on modern rock radio these days, and I personally like the rough edge he has now. Neal Schon seems to be in the background on this one, but when he DOES step out and solo, it's arguably his best lead work he's ever done with Journey. As far as the two big singles go, I've heard people say "Message of Love" is a clone of "Seperate Ways". If it is, I think it's a better version of it. Also, if there is any Journey ballad that can rival "Open Arms", it's "When You Love A Woman". That kind of leads to my one glaring issue with TBF...it's a bit too heavy on ballads for me, and that's coming from someone who's a sucker for ballads, especailly ones that Perry sings. After a while, I was going to fall asleep until "Can't Tame The Lion" came on. Aside from that, I liked this album a lot. The songwriting might not be for everyone, but for what it is, it's outstanding. Gettting a hidden bonus track for your money was pretty cool too. Oh, and as always, the cover art is spectacular.

I have to admit, I was never a big Journey fan back in the day. I didn't dislike them, I was just into different music at the time. Recently after reading about the new Journey front man and the Steve versus Arnel controversy, I found myself intrigued and picked up Journey's Greatest Hits. I was stunned! I knew the words to every song as though I had absorbed the music subliminally. I began to realize that truly, Journey provided the soundtrack of the 80's. I now wanted more. So I picked up this little gem. What I like about it is that it's not the Journey of the 80's. Don't get me wrong, that music was great but been there done that. To stay creatively fresh an artist needs to keep moving forward. I don't think it would've served Journey well to just keep cranking out the same stuff they did in 83'. Trial By Fire's a more mature work. No, Steve Perry probably couldn't hit the high notes anymore, but so what? What he may have lacked in the upper register is more than made up for by the husky soulfulness of his voice and impeccable phrasing. While I like SP's FLOSM, I think he was at his best when working with Jonathan & Neal. I love this CD!