Way back in the day I sadly missed out on Dare, taken by the bright lights of the Sunset Strip in the late eighties if it was all a bit too melodic then so I kind of side stepped it. Sadly as a result I missed out on some of the best Melodic Rock music that has ever come out of the UK. I met Darren a few years ago and of course by then I’d righted that wrong but I still feel like I missed out. But the thing about Dare is that the 2022 vintage might just be even better than the band that we had back in 1988.
‘Born in the Storm’ is a perfect song to open the album – wonderfully written, beautifully played, full of hooks and sealed with a beautiful vocal it’s worth the price of admission alone and if you love your Classic Rock the this is an album for you.
‘Cradle to the Grave’ has a feel of UK to the opening guitar line and a blue sky vocal that sits atop a song full of good memories and nostalgia, it’s a song about being grateful for what you have and plays out wonderfully.
‘Fire Never Fades’ keeps that strong mid tempo melodic rock ride going, and you’ll be impressed by the sheer quality. The Title track ‘Road to Eden’ though is something else – its simply beautiful and has a slight Gaelic leaning to it that just sets it off right. Four songs in the smile is from ear to ear.
‘Lovers and Friends’ is even lusher, a wonderfully orchestrated ballad that sweeps you up in its soft arms. ‘Only the Good Die Yung’ adds a little more drive and heads for the highway, it’s still as melodic but gets a bit more rockier as it mixes the vibe of Journey with Tyketto and Bryan Adams via Richard Marx. It’s another favourite.
‘Grace’ sweeps you up again to that happy place and ‘I Always Will’ that follows has that hint of ‘Country’ as it opens and it quickly has you singing along. Wharton throughout this record has the remarkable knack of doing that to you! Even on the first play I found I couldn’t help myself singing along!
‘The Devil Rides Tonight’ is another big one here – again a track with a little more fire it sizzles as it shoots off down the highway. That just leaves us with one and we close with the sadness-tinged ‘Thy Kingdome Come’ which rides out in fluid melodic style. It’s yet another highpoint for me.
If you love your melodic rock on the lighter side and relish an album that doesn’t put a foot wrong then this is it – it’s stunning, it’s beautiful and for my money Darren’s best so far in a career full of great records. If you are in the UK this October book your tickets now!
9/10