ROB MORATTI – Epical

The talented Rob Moratti (ex-Saga) has a new record out that showcases both his excellent singing and great compositional skills, and although it is a slick and polished offering that falls somewhere between melodic rock and AOR, it also possesses some nice (albeit subtle) prog rock flavors and heaps of cool little surprises throughout.

With its palpable sense of drive, motivation, and enthusiasm, Epical comes across as a focused and elegantly crafted affair that leaves little to be desired in terms of infectious vocal melodies, big choruses, and stellar musicianship. Memorable would be one way to sum this one up, but the fact of the matter is that it stands tall and proud as a musically cohesive piece of work that is entertaining, exciting, and deeply atmospheric from beginning to end. ‘Masquerade’, ‘Crash and Burn’, and ‘Hold On’ in particular are an addictive listen. The line-up, which includes Joel Hoekstra and Tony Franklin, is outstanding and so is the music. Give this one a dozen of spins or streams.