PHENOMENA III – Inner Vision [Japanese Remastered reissue +2] (2017)

Japanese new label Wasabi Records has been doing an amazing work reissuing true ’80s classics, and few months ago released the three first essential PHENOMENA albums in a cardboard sleeve packaging replicating its UK edition LP design and a terrific, fresh 2017 remaster.
“Phenomena III – Inner Vision” was the third album from the project, here including 2 bonus tracks.

For “Phenomena III – Inner Vision” mastermind & producer Tom Galley wanted a more ‘normal band’ status, a stable line-up to present the album in a live tour as well.
So we find here the great Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy, 21 Guns, Far Corporation) on guitars, Michael Sturgis (21 Guns, Asia) handling all drums, Leif Johansen (21 Guns, Far Corporation) on keyboards, and terrific vocalist Keith Murell (Mama’s Boys, Airrace, almost in Foreigner too).
There’s also guitar contributions by Queen’s Brian May, and even Freddie Mercury show interest to do some back-up singing for the album, but due to his illness not managed to, eventually.

In terms of sound, this is the ‘less British” Phenomena album, definitely Americanized and with a strong, AOR feeling all over.
In my book this is a great thing, and while some fans missed the atmospheres of the first album, “Phenomena III – Inner Vision” is a wonderful slice of lush, polished early ’80s AOR / Melodic Rock.
There’s the core of 21 Guns in the line up, so comparisons are inevitable, also Far Corporation for sure. Add to that Murell’s melodic smooth pipes and the result is highly melodic.

‘Rock House’, the killer ‘Banzi’, midtempo ‘What About Love’, the bright ‘Into The Fire’, ‘Secret Of Love’ and its great keys, the kicking ‘If You Want To Rock’, the super AOR of ‘How Much Do You Love Me’… all are superb tracks in an album that shoulda been into any ‘best of’ of late 80s / early 90s AOR / Melodic Rock list.

This is really welcomed 24-bit remastering on this delicious abum, plus 2 treasurable bonus tracks (including a new version of the immortal ‘No Retreat No Surrender’) material with a different line-up from what would have been album #4.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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ＷＡＳＡＢＩ ＲＥＣＯＲＤＳ ~ WSBAC-47
Ｐ Ｈ Ｅ Ｎ Ｏ Ｍ Ｅ Ｎ Ａ 「 ＲＥＩＳＳＵＥ ＳＥＲＩＥＳ 」

01 – Rock House
02 – Banzi
03 – What About Love
04 – Into The Fire
05 – A Whole Lot Of Love
06 – Secret Love
07 – If You Want To Rock
08 – How Much Do You Love Me
09 – Shape It Up
10 – Rock My Soul
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – No Retreat No Surrender (New Recording)
12 – Scalpel & Heart

Keith Murell – vocals
Scott Gorham – guitars
Brian May – guitars
Leif Johansen – keyboards
Michael Sturgis – drums

Bonus Tracks:
Steve Hollyman – guitar, vocals
Tom Carter – bass
Huwey Lucas – guitar
Matt McGuinness – drums
Jason Fillingham – keyboards
Tracey Riggan – backing vocals

BUY IT !
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/WSBAC-47
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