HYBRID ICE – Hybrid Ice [digitally remastered]

Easily among the best American AOR bands of ’80s, HYBRID ICE released two stupendous albums during the decade, fortunately now digitally remastered for all of us rejoice.
Also like AOR masters DAKOTA, this five-piece HYBRID ICE hails from Pennsylvania. And precisely Dakota’s masterminds Jerry Hludzik & Bill Kelly helped HYBRID ICE to get a recording deal, with their self-titled debut LP appearing in 1982.

Simply put, HYBRID ICE’s music represents what first half of the ’80s Pomp AOR was supposed to be; flurry keyboard lines, layers of harmony vocals and delicious melodies.
Think the pompous earworm of the likes of Balance, Le Roux, Touch, Styx and of course, Boston. Just to give you an idea, track 4 ‘Magdalene’ was later covered by Boston on their 1994 album Walk On.

Songwriting and performances on “HYBRID ICE” are second to none.
The killer riff and synths of ‘Heart Of The Night’, the atmospheres of ‘Looking Glass’, the pumping ‘On We Go’, and of course the AOR heaven of ‘Think It Over’, all are brute diamonds for true fans from the first hour.
But all songs are terrific, and this reissue includes two tracks previously not present in the original LP.
For me, A Must Have, essential in your classic AOR CD flock.

01 – Looking Glass
02 – On We Go
03 – Think It Over
04 – Magdelene
05 – Wounded
06 – Rock ‘N Roll Forever
07 – Castle Walls
08 – Heart Of The Night
09 – Please Tell MaryAnn
10 – Do You Believe In Rock ‘N Roll
11 – Test Of Time

Chris Alburger – guitar, keyboards, vocals
Galen Foulke – lead guitar, vocals
Bob Richardson – keyboards, vocals
Jeff Willoughby – bass, vocals
Rick Klinger – drums, vocals

.