…or how to put a photo of yourself next to a definition of “brilliant melodic rock music”.
(by Velina of “My Rock Mixtapes”)
We had plenty of impressive melodic rock releases this year so far and yet none of them has given me this amount of excitement, comfort and satisfaction as this one right here. It might be because it is after all made by melodic rock kings or because Tommy Heart is one of the very few vocalists, capable of bringing so much warmth and coziness to my tiny little rock heart, but “Kee of Hearts” is without doubt, a pivotal moment for the melodic rock scene of 2017. Frontiers Music are throwing one kick-ass punch after another and I’m not sure I can handle it or keep up with the amount of top notch rock music thrown at me but I can sure as hell try. I am beyond ecstatic to be witnessing the making and release of such album. Let me tell you why…
Kee of Hearts represents the collaboration between vocalist Tommy Heart (Fair Warning) and guitarist Kee Marcello (Europe). Those two superstars got together last year and made some serious magic in that studio which later on materialized into an elegant self-titled debut album of a lifetime you simply can’t get enough of. As a die-hard fan of Fair Warning and someone who reaches for their music in times of pain and trouble, you can only imagine how thrilled I was to learn that Tommy Heart is doing a new project. This meant one thing – I was about to very soon meet my new favorite melodic rock album.
“Kee of Hearts” was out on September 15, 2017 via Frontiers Records. Thankfully, the album was immediately available on Spotify so I cranked it up right from the early morning to the late of dawn. I couldn’t stop smiling, song after song. I became a glowing ball of energy only because of this album and I still am by the way!
Let’s talk music! “The Storm” is the opening track and the title pretty much sums it up all! A powerful blazing melodic rock impact right from the very beginning, signalling the arrival of something truly valuable. I am enchanted by the lyrics, though this phenomenon could be observed throughout the entire album. “A New Dimension” is another promising song with a “wow” aftereffect further proving why Tommy Heart is one of the best melodic rock vocalists out there. What follows is as good as the rest. Classic AOR songs like“Bridge To Heaven” and “Stranded” offer a bouquet of wonderful hooks, impeccable vocal arrangements, groovy guitars and pleasing keyboard touches. The honest “Mama Don’t Cry” and the quite relevant (these days especially) “S.O.S.” are two of the stand-outs for certain. “Edge of Paradise” is a personal favorite; the only justice that can be done to this song is if it’s played live in a huge arena in front of thousands of people. I keep imagining this… The classy “Twist of Fate” is a close second favorite – you just can’t take those catchy refrains out of your head…but then again, why should you? The track is the ultimate sing-along joyride.
Final verdict: “Kee of Hearts” is a melodic rock bliss from start to finish. This album represents just the kind of class and nobility we so desperately need on the rock music scene these days. Tommy Heart and Kee Marcello crafted a fine release that rocks, entertains and keeps our spirits lifted from start to finish. It’s a must-have for every AOR fan out there who knows what is true and what is not…I pray those two come up with a follow-up!
My Fair Warning journey began with their self-titled debut album which without doubt is one of the most brilliant coming out parties of all time. The German rockers didn’t achieve the success they deserved with that first release but on a positive note, they became pretty popular in Asian countries, particularly in Japan. I talked about the album on my 
“Go!” is Fair Warning‘s fourth album, released in the late ’90s. Not the best time for a hard rock band to make a comeback but who the hell cares, right? The album is strictly following Fair Warning‘s beautiful, well-established sophisticated melodic rock sound, since the very first album. The unmatched talent of Tommy Heart – who by the way is one of the greatest vocalists of all time (at least in my book) shines brighter than the sun on this album. 
MY ROCK MIXTAPES 