RENAISSANCE ROCK ORCHESTRA – The Ice Age Cometh (Escape Music 2023 Remaster Version)
Keyboarder Gregg Fox (Beggars & Thieves, King Kobra, Vargas/ Bogert & Appice) is the musical director of the project RENAISSANCE ROCK ORCHESTRA and the new album ”The Ice Age Cometh” is the follow-up to the 2018 album ‘In Times of Olde’. Gregg self-released this but now the whole thing has been remastered and re-released by Escape Music.
For this concept album revolving around melodic hard rock, progressive and, AOR, Gregg gathers lots of musicians of high caliber like vocalists Robin McAuley, Mark Boals, Michael Romero, drummers Alan White (YES), Vinny Appice, Brian Tichy, Scott Rockenfield, guitarists George Lynch, “Bumblefoot”, Michael Romeo, on bass there’s Tony Franklin, Phil Soussan, and many more quality musicians.
Musically this is timeless, melodic, with many points in common with project PHENOMENA.
If there are core elements, I would gather these: harmonic vocal arrangements, tandem and strong keyboard and guitar work (including solos), and simple AOR accessibility. You might expect Fox’s keyboard work be at the fore, influenced by Gregg Giufrria, Rick Wakeman, etc.
But Fox has spent a lifetime working with others, and his song composition displays this. Fox is a team player, and everybody get a chance to shine.
Mentioning a selection of songs, the first observation to make is the great consistency, yet subtle diversity, across this recording. AOR / melodic rock comes with The Author Of Mystery, Here We Are Again, or In My Loving Arms. Then there’s the title cut, a slow building rock anthem.
With Secrets In The Sand you can here obvious Middle Eastern nuances. J.S. Rock is exactly what you would think: Johann Sebastian Bach morphed into melodic metal rock. Finally, there’s the closing tune, Long Live Rock And Roll, essentially an arena hymn to rock music which turns upon a grand choral vocal arrangement.
Most things considered, with ”Ice Age Cometh”, Gregg Fox and his Renaissance Rock Orchestra offers listeners expertly crafted and highly entertaining platter of AOR / melodic hard rock / progressive driven by Fox’s expansive songwriting, versatile keyboard work, and complimented by a host of talented musical friends.
Highly Recommended
01 – In My Lovin’ Arms
02 – The Ice Age Cometh
03 – Here We Are Again
04 – Secrets in the Sand
05 – Circus Life
06 – My Lonely Heart
07 – The Universal Dance
08 – J.S. Rock
09 – A Song of Hope
10 – The Author of Mystery
11 – Long Live Rock and Roll
Gregg Foxx – keyboards, synths, mellotron
Robin McAuley – vocals
Mark Boals – vocals
Bret Kaiser (MadamX) – vocals
Alan White (Yes) – drums
Vinny Appice (Dio) – drums
Scott Rockenfield (Queensryche) – drums
Brian Tichy (Whitesnake / Dead Daisies) – drums
Ben Smith (Heart) – drums
Michael James Romeo (Symphony X) – guitar
George Lynch (ex Dokken / Lynch Mob) – guitar
Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns n’ Roses) – guitar
Robby Lochner (Great White/ Jack Russell) – guitar
Christian Brady (Hellyeah) – guitar
Elvis Lederer (Chriss Angel) – guitar
Toni Aleman (Ratt) – guitar
George Cintron (Danger Danger/Blue Oyster Cult) – guitar
Tony Franklin (Blue Murder / The Firm ) – bass
Phil Soussan (Ozzy) – bass
Greg Smith (Ted Nugent / Billy Idol / Blue Oyster Cult) – bass
and many more
BUY
www.amazon.co.uk/Ice-Cometh-Renaissance-Rock-Orchestra/dp/B0C1MF92W7
