HOLY WATER "The Collected Sessions" /CD/

The debut and only full-length album by American Melodic Hard Rock band.
Holy Water formed in the late 80s from members and sidemen of Foreigner, Doro, Saraya, Quiet Riot, Widowmaker and Prong, and they decided to put all the great tunes in a CD, calling it "The Collected Sessions". So what to expect? Tough one! This collected sessions release moves from Rock, Blues, AOR up to Melodic Hard Rock tunes. It covers almost two decades, nevertheless is full of good tunes and is more than a decent job!
Hooks and melodies galore, monster guitar riffs, a bone crushing rhythm section and just enough keyboards and harmony vocals to bridge the gap between 80's pomp and 90's power. Album includes recordings from 1982, 1989, the early 90s and today. Recently remastered by Patrick Klein (The Lizards) and packaged by artist Danny Frank, "The Collected Sessions" is a never-before-released CD chronicling Holy Water's mercurial career.
This album is mostly a Melodic Rock/Hard Rock release and it blows your mind. The first three tracks of the album are pure Melodic Hard Rock, reminding a lot of Def Leppard, Hardline and Bad Company. They are keeping a great rhythm section and fantastic keyboard melodies. Produced in the early nineties by former Foreigner keyboardist Al Greenwood, these three songs have been ranked among the classics of Melodic Rock by industry insiders. "Some Things Have To Happen" adds a sleazy thingy to the total sum. "Once Is Not Enough" is the party mood song, the way Great White have accustomed us, while "MonsteR Iff" is a rather technical track, bringing out the Satriani way of playing ("Surfing With The Alien") and is slowly moving to Bluesy lines. The last couple of tunes, are obviously from ages ago. "Crocodile Rock" (cover of Elton John's song) is the early 80s Rock like Loverboy, Journey, Foreigner while "Living For The City" moves to similar paths with a stronger Blues-Funk air and it gives you the idea that John Lord and the Marsden/Moody duo are jamming together. This release includes a version of "If I Knew Then..." recorded back in 1989, which caught the attention of Mr. Greenwoods (Foreigner) who took over the production back then.
Although you get which tracks are from which era, the production has been greatly worked and the vocals of David Knight are a huge plus to the whole effort. It is a release with mid-tempo songs with cracking melodies, and only by listening the first three tracks it will be difficult to unstuck this CD from your player!!
Perris Records, 2009 (PER2132). Used: very good.


Tracklist:
1. I'm Not Worried Anymore 4:07
2. If I Knew Then... 4:56
3. Some Things Have To Happen 4:39
4. Once Is Not Enough 4:10
5. If I Knew Then... 5:31
6. Monster Iff 6:02
7. Crocodile Rock 4:22
8. Living For The City 3:54
9. All I Need 4:01
Total playing time: 41:42