ROADMASTER – Fortress [Rock Candy remaster]

Indiana’s ROADMASTER was unquestionably one of the pillars in the Pomp AOR movement, and fortunately Rock Candy Records has remastered their more essential albums. All really good – being this “Fortress” their last studio album before broke-up, and a wonderful slice of melodic rock / AOR it is.

ROADMASTER extensively developed the Pomp Rock sound on their previous album, but at the time of the recording of “Fortress” (early ’80s) the band was fully entrenched in the Melodic Rock AOR craze spawned by bands like Foreigner, Journey, Survivor, The Babys, etc.

That year, “Fortress” was released and is widely considered the band’s creative peak, plenty of urgent hooks and catchy choruses. Still retaining the Pomp AOR flavor, this album is more focused on sharp edged guitar playing with a full-on melodic hard rock attack.

With Steve McNally’s signature voice making the most of the melodies and Rick Benick’s guitar work providing solid gold easy action, the album cruises past the finish line as if they were men hell bent on ripping up the rule book.

“Fortress” appears for the very first time on CD thanks to Rock Candy Records, which remaster is excellent by the way, including a really interesting essay about the band plus rare photos in a 16-page color booklet.

Roadmaster was simply another one of those bands whose name you should’ve heard a lot more than you actually did. All their records are really good, at places ahead of their time. “Fortress” is a slick slice of ’80s arena rock, a must have for any AOR purist.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

01 – Ride The Wind Away
02 – I Didn’t Notice
03 – You Make Me Feel Alright
04 – Too Long, Too Long
05 – New York, New York
06 – Someday
07 – Satisfied Woman
08 – Another One’s Running
09 – Stay With Me Through The Night

Stephen McNally: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Rick Benick: Guitar, Backing Vocals
Toby Myers: Bass, Backing Vocals
Michael Read: Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Bobby Johns: Drums, Backing Vocals

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www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8699549
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