Now if you missed out the first time around I’ve got good news Italy’s finest Melodic Rockers Hungryheart are in the studio working on their fourth album as we speak. Even better is that their 2008 self-titled debut is being re-released with a couple of bonus tracks. As The Rockpit formed in late 2018 it’s an album that made our inaugural TOP 10 of the year list.
Listening back again ten years on I’m glad to say it’s stood the test of time if you’re a fan of Melodic Rock and AOR. Looking back it’s interesting to reflect that 2008 was also the year that Eclipse broke internationally with their Frontiers debut and third album ‘Are You Ready to Rock.’ At the time I think both bands were on a par and both leading the way in Europe with an exciting take on the Rock we all loved. Eclipse of course went on to greater glory and whilst Hungryheart went on to produce more great albums the gap between 2010’s ‘One Ticket To Paradise’ and 2015’s ‘Dirty Italian Job’ led to a loss of momentum and I really hope album number 4 will fix that as these guys have so much talent it’s scary.
Back to the review: we could I guess rehash that original review but where’s the fun in that? If we’re honest ‘Hungryheart’ is a great example of an album that doesn’t put a foot wrong from the opening notes of ‘Rock City’ to the last breath of ‘Gina’. It’s elevated though by three songs that just take your breath away- namely ‘The Only One’; ‘Hard Lovin’ Woman’ and ‘River of Soul.’ Listening to it today I still get that vibe I’d be more than happy with the album without those three heavy hitters, but with them it really is a tour-de-force. And the band obviously realise that, adding two 2018 acoustic takes on ‘The Only One’ and ‘River of Soul’ to this re-release.
We open up with the feelgood summer sky rock of ‘Rock City’ which gives an instant sugar rush and complete gratification before ‘Stealing the Night’ really underlines you’ve stumbled onto something special with its surefooted, melodic slow-burn.
‘Rive of Soul’ up next reveals one of the albums enduring gems – it’s such a great song, acoustic led and full of feel and blues with a huge refrain and great uplifting mood, that suddenly bursts into life. Love it! It’s followed by the wonderfully catchy and gentle ‘Hang On To Me’ just about allows you to catch your breath before one of the other diamonds surfaces in ‘The Only One’ a song which like ‘River of Soul’ really defines this album.
There’s little let up as the melodic stomp of ‘Innocent Tears’ glides in, and it and the delicate heartfelt ‘Shadows’ lead you to my favorite track on the album ‘Hard Lovin’ Woman’ – it’s another song that starts with delicate guitars and a bluesy feel before stomping all over you. Thirty years ago that is a song that would have been all over MTV.
The original release closes out with ‘Breath Away’; ‘It Takes Two’ and ‘Gina’ three songs that keep up the high standards and drip with melody and hooks. This anniversary edition adds two acoustic reworkings of ‘River of Soul’ and ‘The Only One’ they’re great of course, though they stray little from the originals,maybe even adding a little extra heart and soul. One things for sure it sounds like Hungryheart are ready for business. Let’s hope this time they get the breaks their music deserves.
TRACKLIST: 01 ROCK CITY | 02 STEALING THE NIGHT | 03 RIVER OF SOUL | 04 HANG ON TO ME | 05 THE ONLY ONE | 06 INNOCENT TEARS | 07 SHADOWS | 08 HARD LOVIN’ WOMAN | 09 BREATH AWAY | 10 IT TAKES TWO | 11 GINA | 12 RIVER OF SOUL (2018 REVISITED) | 13 THE ONLY ONE (2018 ACOUSTIC VERSION)
