It’s hard to believe that nearly 40 years have passed since Jeff Scott Soto became a household name as the singer for Yngwie Malmsteen. In the years since, he’s further cemented his status as one of the finest voices in hard and heavy music, thanks to stints with Talisman, Axel Rudi Pell, W.E.T., Sons of Apollo, and an all too brief run with Journey. And amazingly through it all, Soto has managed to maintain a solo career as well. I’m not quite sure how he does it, but he sure does it well on his latest solo effort, Complicated.
Like many Soto driven vehicles, Complicated is not just a product of Frontiers Records, but heavily curated by the label as well. Bass, keys, backing vocals, production, and most if not all of the songwriting are handled by, you guessed it, Alessandro Del Vecchio. Joining him is longtime Soto drummer Edu Cominato, as well as the blatantly Malmsteen inspired guitarist Fabrizio Sgattoni. From a songwriting perspective, I get the impression that Del Vecchio set out to write the ultimate Soto album; one that captured the dark intensity of those early Malmsteen albums, the melodic power of Talisman, and the AOR slickness of W.E.T. All I can say on that end is mission accomplished.
Soto’s ever familiar voice guides us on this musical retrospective, starting with the high energy “Last to Know”. With its heavy guitar riffs and retro synths, “Last to Know” showcases that classic Talisman sound. While the band is no longer with us (R.I.P. Marcel Jacob), the sprit lives on through Soto. It’s also strongly present on cuts like the powerful title track, as well as the triumphant closer that is “Obsession”. These songs are fist pump worthy and shout along ready, dripping with arena rock enthusiasm. If only there was a packed arena somewhere to absorb them!
When he isn’t cranking out these Talisman-esque anthems, Soto and company explore the realms of classic metal and AOR. On the metal side of things are the melodramatic “Home Again” and the overly aggressive “New Horizon”. Both boast the steel riffing and neoclassical soloing of prime Malmsteen, courtesy of the aforementioned Sgattoni. In other words, if “I Am a Viking” and “I’ll See the Light Tonight” are your speed, you’re in for a treat. Contrasting these slabs of 80s metal romanticism are the hook laden AOR of “Love is the Revolution”, “Don’t Look Back”, and one of the finest cuts on here, “Thank You”. Never one to shy from dynamism, Soto shines on this adult contemporary ballad that recalls the biggest hits of Survivor and Night Ranger.
Knowing Soto’s all work, no play (or is the other way around?) agenda, I’m sure we’ll get two Sons of Apollo albums and another W.E.T. album before we hear from him solo again. I just hope subsequent solo releases follow this “Jeff Scott Soto, This is your life” formula. As long as Del Vecchio continues to draw inspiration from those classic 80s and 90s albums, both Soto and the fans should be in good hands!
7 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: AOR
For fans of: Talisman, Yngwie Malmsteen, W.E.T.