Melodic hard rock with great guitar hooks and even greater vocal hooks to it is the name of the game here and with such hugely talented and renowned artists as Andrew Freeman (Last in Line, Lynch Mob) and Mike Slamer (Warrant, Seventh Key, Steelhouse Lane ) involved, you simply cannot go wrong with this self-titled effort by Devil’s Hand if you are on the lookout for an entertaining musical ride.

Devil’s Hand deliver memorable songs with huge choruses and giant-sized riffs to them that recall acts as diverse as Def Leppard, Toto, Journey, Pride of Lions, and Asia. The rather slick production also possesses an 80s sheen, but it lacks neither power nor substance. Freeman’s superb vocals suit the song material nicely as illustrated by the bluesy (and slightly melancholy) “One More Time” and the explosive “Drive Away”. Other highlights include the ballad entitled “Justified”, which features some of Freeman’s most awe-inspiring vocals to date, the epic “Rise Above It All” with its big riffs, and the fist-pumping title track. The guitar work is incredibly strong, and the solos are utterly catchy while the rhythm section is solid and punchy all the way through. Only a couple of fillers make an appearance, so this is generally a rather cohesive output in terms of quality.

If you want musical experimentation or innovation, you need to look elsewhere, but if what you desire is an exciting hard rock album that is as inspired as it is uplifting, “Devil’s Hand” is it. This one simply oozes amazing songwriting talent. Well done, guys.

https://open.spotify.com/album/1rBtmmOHMdupO8Q0De6DbV