I have been a massive Thin Lizzy fan for as long as I can remember. I own just about every album and happen to be wearing a Bad Reputation era shirt as I type this. As much as I can rave on about what a brilliant bassist/singer/lyricist Phil Lynott was, the other members of Thin Lizzy were equally important in bringing this amazing music to life. One such member was keyboardist Darren Wharton, who at 18 years old joined the band for their 10th studio album, Chinatown (1980). Inspired by the likes of Jon Lord and Don Airey, Wharton’s keys added a new depth to the heavier direction Lizzy was headed in on this album, as well as 1981’s Renegade and 1983’s Thunder and Lightning.
As fate would have it, Phil Lynott’s 1986 passing would dash any chance of new music from Thin Lizzy. This left Wharton to express himself with a new creative vehicle, Dare. Those expecting twin guitar fueled rockers in the vein of his past band must’ve been taken aback upon the release of Dare’s debut album, Out of the Silence (1988). Instead, they were treated to a collection of sophisticated compositions that blurred the line between hard and soft rock, following in the grand English AOR tradition. One could draw similarities to fellow countrymen Magnum and FM, but Dare was never as dramatic as Magnum or blatantly poppy as FM. They were always their own band, and this remains true on their latest album, Road to Eden.
At the forefront remains Wharton on keyboards and vocals, as well as guitarist Vinny Burns. Wharton was never a flashy singer. In fact, he lacks the superhuman range one would expect of a singer in this genre. However, he makes up for it in passion and power, conveying the often nostalgic lyrics straight from his heart and soul. Cuts like “Born in the Storm”, “Fire Never Fades”, and the prog tinged closer “Thy Kingdom Come”, see Wharton and Burns create an elegant atmosphere with their contrasting lush synths and splitting guitars respectively. One of the unsung axeslingers of the melodic rock scene, Burns can lay down a ripping guitar solo, but without coming off as pompous or overbearing.
When the band isn’t specializing in these grandiose surrealist arrangements, they showcase their own unique flavor of pop rock, specifically on songs like “Road to Eden”, “I Always Will”, and the blatantly retro “Only the Good Die Young”, which wouldn’t sound out of place on an 80s movie soundtrack. Speaking of the 80s, I must give this album credit for remaining true to the aesthetics and production values of the era. There’s no overblown, overcompressed, modern rock flirtations here, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Coincidentally, my choice cut happens to be the hardest on the album, “The Devil Rides Tonight”. The only downside of this song is how short it is. Blink and this energetic headbanger is gone!
I’m not sure if I see myself spinning Road to Eden as often as Out of the Silence or Blood From Stone (1991), but it is a fine entry into the essentially flawless Dare catalog. In their 35+ year career, Wharton and company saw AOR go in and out of style, and eventually “in” again. No matter what direction the tide of trends turn, there’s no doubt Dare will remain the same, specializing in only the finest, first-class melodic rock around.
7 out of 10
Label: Legend Records
Genre: AOR
For fans of: Magnum, FM, Ten