JEFF SCOTT SOTO – Retribution [Japanese Edition] (2017)

It has been 15 years since Frontiers Music first partnered up with JEFF SCOTT SOTO on a release, and in celebration of that anniversary, the label will release another new album from Jeff on November 10. Co-written and produced together with Jeff Scott Soto alumni Howie Simon, “Retribution” is Jeff’s sixth proper solo studio album in a style that fans have come to know and love from the legendary singer over the years: first class Melodic Hard Rock.

Jeff Scott Soto is a musician that has built a lasting career on releasing top notch music, no matter what genre he decides to give a shot. From his early days singing with Yngwie Malmsteen, to his most recent projects SOTO and Sons of Apollo, you could pretty well take it to the bank that whatever he was putting his golden voice on, it was guaranteed to be stellar.

His chameleon-like abilities to adapt to whatever project he was working on from the Neo-Classical Metal of Malmsteen to the funky and soulful melodic hard rock of Talisman to the modern hard rock style of SOTO is his most notable characteristic, he has also demonstrated his abilities as a songwriter.

Despite “spreading himself” to many projects whether as the main focal point or a backing performer, he has never over-stayed his welcome. In fact, he still remains as one of the hidden gems in the Hard Rock and Metal world.
When he took over the vocals for Journey, I’d hoped that this would be his moment to stand out on a bigger stage shining a light on his tremendous talent and sending folks to his other stuff. As we already know that didn’t pan out, but it didn’t damper Soto’s desire to create music thankfully.

Soto has the chance to wind up holding two spots in my Top 5 this year. One could be the brilliant Prog Metal super group Sons of Apollo’s Psychotic Symphony, out now, and the other may very well go to his brand new solo album “Retribution”.
This album is simply outstanding.

With understated yet beautiful AORish midtempo like “Feels Like Forever” to his fantastic melodic catchy stuff like “Inside / Outside” to the tender “Song For Joey” (an emotional piece written as a tribute to Jeff Scott Soto’s brother) to even a straight forward hard rocker like “Bullet For My Baby” – that sort of melds what he’s doing with SOTO into something that hearkens back to 80’s hard rock, “Retribution” is one of his strongest and most consistent.
For someone that does so much musically, this is one of his most focused releases to date, never veering too far away from just being a straight forward kick ass melodic hard rock album that he has built his amazing career on.

“Breakout” and “Dedicate to You” get things revved up with plenty of energy and groove before the album comes to close with the track “Autumn” which is a stripped down acoustic ballad in which JSS proclaims an undying love to someone very special.

“Retribution” is everything that you would expect and want from JSS. Huge choruses, powerhouse rhythm section, epic riffs, lightning solos and that voice. YES! THE VOICE!!
In closing, this album is more than retribution and revolution. It is also redemption and a message to the world that Jeff Scott Soto is back and ready to take over the world. You can count on that.
One of the ‘Albums Of The Year’ without a doubt.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

01. Retribution
02. Inside / Outside
03. Rage Of The Year
04. Reign Again
05. Feels Like Forever
06. Last Time
07. Bullet For My Baby
08. Song For Joey
09. Breakout
10. Fells Like Forever (Acoustic) [Japan Bonus Track]
11. Dedicate To You
12. Autumn

Jeff Scott Soto – Vocals, Keyboards
Howie Simon – Guitar & Bass
Edu Cominato – Drums
August Zadra – Guitar on “Reign Again”
Stephen Sturm – Guitar on “Reign Again”
Carlos Costa – Bass on “Reign Again”
Paul Mendonca – Guitar, Keyboards & Bass on “Song For Joey”

BUY IT !
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/KICP-1866
.