JOEL HOEKSTRA’S 13 – Dying To Live [Japan Edition] (2015)

Current Whitesnake and former Night Ranger guitarist Joel Hoekstra will release “Dying To Live“, the new melodic hard rock studio album from his electrifying new side project JOEL HOEKSTRA’S 13, on October 16 via Frontiers Srl.
The album has just been appeared in Japan with a bonus track.

The record, which features an all-star cast of melodic hard rock musicians at the top of their game including Jeff Scott Soto (vocals), Russell Allen (vocals), Tony Franklin (bass), Vinny Appice (drums), and Derek Sherinian (keyboards) among others, sees Joel handling the bulk of the creative process, taking care of the production, plus songwriting and arranging (music and lyrics).

Joel described this album as Dio at its heaviest and Foreigner at its lightest. It is packed with melodic rock (“Anymore”, “Until I Left You”) and hard rock / metal elements (“Say Goodbye to the Sun”, “Scream”). Although this is not a Whitesnake album, it is audible on most tracks a bit of a Whitesnake-esque spice to them, and have that huge production sound which Whitesnake is known for nowadays.
This is obviously amazing. “Dying To Live” is not just another rock release on a melodic rock record label’s catalogue (Frontiers Music); this is really well-written, well-produced and well-executed.

All songs are strong and interesting. Just to mention a couple, “Scream” is a clear example that good old rock and roll can still be made and sound amazing. A combination of Hoekstra’s guitar and musical arrangement and Soto’s vocals makes this hard rockin’ tune really enjoyable.
“Long For The Days” is another stand out, more classic rock oriented and melodic. Vinny Appice (drums) and Tony Franklin (bass) lay it down an awesome rhythm while Derek Sherinian (keys) provides the right sounds and parts with tasteful perfection to complement Joel’s guitar licks. Russell Allen delivers one of my favorite vocal performances ever and Jeff Scott Soto sings some amazing backgrounds to support them.
Can you ask for a better line up?

Excellent production, great songs and a pedigree of musicians second to none, makes Joel Hoekstra’s 13 debut “Dying To Live” one of the albums of the year.
It’s really, really good.

【CD】ダイイング・トゥ・リヴ/ジョエル・ホークストラズ13
Ward Records Japan ~ GQCS-90042

01 – Say Goodbye To The Sun
02 – Anymore
03 – Until I Left You
04 – Long For The Days
05 – Scream
06 – Never Say Never
07 – Changes
08 – The Only Way To Go
09 – Dying To Live
10 – Start Again
11 – What We Believe
12 – Never Want (Japan Bonus Track)

Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake) – guitars, backing vocals
Jeff Scott Soto (Journey / Yngwie) – lead vocals, backing vocals
Russell Allen (Allen-Lande / Symphony X) – lead vocals, backing vocals
Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath / Dio) – drums
Tony Franklin (The Firm / Blue Murder) – bass

special guest musicians:
Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) – keyboards
Chloe Lowery (Trans Siberian Orchestra) – vocals
Toby Hitchcock (Pride of Lions) – additional backing vocals
Charlie Zeleny (Joe Lynn Turner) – percussion
Dave Eggar (Amy Lee / Coldplay) – cello

BUY IT !
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/GQCS-90042
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