This is a great story… New York’s Chandler Mogel (TALON, UNTIL DESTINY) hooking up with former members of FIREWIND Bob Katsionis and Mark Cross to create the new band OUTLOUD.

You have three members from Greece, one California boy, and a New Yorker; talk about a melting pot and that is what it is. Collectively you have five class-act musicians that have played different styles from power metal to progressive but when they become an entity in OUTLOUD you get straight ahead pulsating melodic ROCK! Yeah rock!!!!

I was surprised listening to “Outloud” because I wasn’t expecting music in the vein of TNT meets GUNS ‘N’ ROSES. These guys are going to put rock in a tailspin with the mega-volume of intensity they play with on this record.

The release was mixed and mastered by none other than Tommy Hansen HELLOWEEN fame and the production just jumps out at you from the beginning. Check out their first single/video track for “We Run”; this one will blow you away with the sophisticated vocals of Mogel and with the tantalizing background keyboards by Katsionis which are subtle yet add depth. This is surely gonna make these boys a household name if there is any justice!

The tune “Tonight” is another killer track that brings back elements of some classic rockers maybe in the style BON JOVI with touches of STYX and it even has hints of MOTT THE HOOPLE’s “All The Way To Memphis”. The guitars are excellent and when they mix with the stabbing keyboards the track is set on fire.

Do I hear shades of AC/DC on “Search For The Truth”? It really amazes me that even though you hear vibes of many different bands, once Mogel’s vocals come into play they have a sound of their own. Song after song I say this is my favorite until the next track but “Search For The Truth” is my highlight track. Great hooks, killer vocals and earth shattering guitar licks. This is just an unbelievable tune!!!

You knew OUTLOUD would have to add a sensitive ballad with a title like “The Broken Heart” as it starts off soft and elevates with excitement. Chandler Mogel has an aura with his vocals that should reach the masses and I see this one making a huge impact in music and hopefully on record store shelves!

Listen to “Wild Life” and just concentrate on the music. Take the vocals away and who do you hear but KISS. I should know, I was a big KISS fan back in the day and sure does sound like some vintage KISS to me. That’s just great!!!

Fast, heavy and hard that’s how I’d describe the song “Out in the Night”. Song after song has the great lyrics and hooks that will drive fans up the wall because you have to sing along with all the songs. This is what music is all about; not having to hit the whammy bar on every song, not needing the double-bass drums on every song and no five-minute keyboard solos. These are five musicians that all are an equal parts of OUTLOUD. Like STYX was, like REO SPEEDWAGON was; great songs that people want to hear, even modern radio friendly songs. Just check out “Love Sigh” which I think can make it to rock stations as well as light FM. Just classic sounding tunes here. But make no mistake, OUTLOUD also knows how to bring the ROCK with “Out Loud” but still keeping to traditional vibes. This is one hell of a release for Frontiers Records that should make rock fans happy.

One of the best releases of the year so far!