HYBRID ICE – No Rules [digitally remastered]

Easily among the best American AOR bands of ’80s, HYBRID ICE released two fantastic albums during the decade, fortunately now digitally remastered.
To be completed, this second effort “No Rules” took almost five years since the previous one, and obviously, HYBRID ICE updated their AOR sound to the more slick & catchy trend of the year, 1987.

Produced by the legendary John Palumbo (Crack The Sky), he provided a much modern sound according to times but HYBRID ICE retained the Pomp feel of their origins resulting into an album combining the best of both wolds: pure ’80s AOR heaven.
“No Rules” a pure keyboard-driven American AOR of the highest order in the vein of Dakota (their mentors), ArcAngel, Spys, Touch, Foreigner and of course, Boston.

We have stunning soaring vocals and perfectly pitched harmonies in killer tracks like ‘Scars On My Heart’ (akin Beau Coup, another band to take as reference), the wonderful midtempo ‘The Night Is Still Young’, and the pumping opener ‘Never Comin’ Back’, while ‘I’ll Be Waiting’ is a terrific semi-ballad adorned with excellent piano parts.

But there’s one shining gem on this album already plenty of superb songs: ‘Secret Dreams’.
Oh yeah, ‘Secret Dreams’ is the perfect definition of ’80s AOR… swirling keyboards, bright guitar riffs, huge vocals and ‘that’ monster chorus to die for.
Among my Top50 best AOR songs from the Eighties.

AOR specialists and connoisseurs rarely put HYBRID ICE’s “No Rules” in the list of ‘Classic’ albums of the genre. Well, I am a humble, simple fan, but for me this album fits in that category.
I dig this digital remaster, with really good bass frequencies and perhaps too much shiny cymbals, but overall it’s a really good sounding reissue.
As said, to me, A Must Have Classic

01 – Never Comin’ Back
02 – Fallen Angel
03 – Scars on My Heart
04 – Fool Me Twice
05 – Secret Dreams
06 – The Night is Still Young
07 – I’ll Be Waiting
08 – It’s Only Love
09 – Poor Little Rich Girl
10 – I Won’t Be Far Away

Chris Alburger – vocals, rhythm guitar
Galen Toye Folke – vocals, guitars
Jeff Willoughby – bass, backing vocals
Rick Klinger – drums, backing vocals
Robert Scott – vocals, keyboards

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