As requested, here’s Aussie classic melodic rockers WHITE WIDDOW last album titled “Victory“, in its now rare, out of print Japanese edition including two bonus tracks. The cover art is different, with a futuristic frame enclosing the main Earth photo.
Ten years and five albums isn’t a bad return for any band these days let alone an AOR band from Melbourne, Australia, but over a decade White Widdow have proved that it doesn’t matter where you’re from – if you make good music then you will get the chances to get it heard.
Five albums in ”Victory” their latest album seems to be setting its sights on the same musical territory covered by that first release – it’s an album that appears to have turned away a little from the straight Melodic Rock/AOR of previous CD’s (especially the slick AOR of ‘Silhouette’) and re-incorporated that ‘Pomp’ element that made their debut stand out.
Opener title track ‘Victory’ eases you in with a lithe Melodic Rocker and is certainly cut from the cloth Gregg chose when he put together Giuffria rather than the white satin of Angel. ‘Fight For Love’ is more subdued and veers into Foreigner territory, whilst ‘Second Hand Heart’ sounds like something from ‘Living in Oz’ or ‘Tao’ era Rick Springfield.
The interesting aspect on this album is the battle between light and shade – the keys and backing vocals which seek to sound anachronistic are often pitted against the guitars which at times sound a half a decade ahead of them, and strangely its a battle that works.
Other real highlights here are the key-heavy ‘Late Night Liaison’, the wonderful slow-burn of ‘Danced in the Moonlight’, ore the efervescent ‘Reach Up’ – which for me is the song that really strikes that perfect balance (and I love that keyboard break) – and the pop-rocker ‘America.’
The Japanese edition bonus tracks are the cover version of Tattoo Rodeo’s great song ‘Restless Heart’, in White Widdow hnads much more melodic and overall more ‘clean’, and the other track is a fantastic synthwave version of ‘Late Night Liaison (Retrowave Mix)’, turinig the song qute different and bringing back memories of that vintage video games.
Musically “Victory” incorporates again a strong pomp element in the songs along with White Widdow’s traditional classic ’80s AOR sound, the band allowing their influence of bands like Giuffria and White Sister to really come through.
Featuring over the top pompous keyboards, stacked harmony vocals from the Millis brothers and Enzo Almanzi’s tasty solos throughout, this is another winner for fans of the traditional sound / style from the genre.
Stirring stuff from start to finish. (thanks to M.T. for this CD)
HIGHLY Recommended
01 – Victory
02 – Fight for Love
03 – Second Hand Heart
04 – Late Night Liason
05 – Danced in the Moonlight
06 – Love and Hate
07 – Reach Up
08 – Anything
09 – America
10 – Run and Hide
JAPAN BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Restless Heart (Tattoo Rodeo cover)
12 – Late Night Liaison (Retrowave Mix)
Jules Millis (vocals)
Xavier Millis (keyboards, vocals)
Enzo Almanzi (guitar)
Ben Webster (bass)
Gavin Hill (drums)