I vividly remember my first encounter with one Mr. August Zadra. I was in high school and going to see estranged Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung for the first time. As he and his band took the stage, I had to do a double take. Did he…nah…wait, he did! For all intents and purposes, DeYoung cloned his old bandmates Tommy Shaw and James Young and presented them onstage in the form of August Zadra and Jimmy Leahey respectively. Not only did this duo LOOK exactly like Shaw and Young, but they played and sang exactly like them too, even down to the synchronized headbanging and guitar moves. Needless to say, it was a sight to behold.
Much has happened in the near decade since that first solo DDY show I attended. Along the way were handful more shows, including a 40th anniversary celebration of Styx’s The Grand Illusion, as well as DDY’s retirement from recording music, which arrived in a pair of farewell albums, the brilliant 26 East: Volume 1 and 2. Whether or not these plans to slow down will translate to a live capacity remains to be seen. DeYoung hasn’t performed live since before the pandemic, which gave Zadra all the time in the world to focus his energies on his solo debut, Guiding Star.
Going into this album, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I prepared myself for an album of unabashed late 70s pomp, following in the Styx tradition. However, with the exception of the brief opener, “Come Together”, there isn’t much in that vein here. Instead, we’ve got a rock solid collection of old school AOR and hard rock songs with emphasis on melody. Think somewhere between Foreigner’s 4 and Whitesnake’s ’87 self titled, especially on cuts like “Nothing More to Say”, “I’ll Meet You in Heaven”, and “Won’t Let Your Love Take You Down”. There’s dreamy synths, lush production, powerful vocals, and sizzling hot guitarwork, the latter two courtesy of Zadra himself.
Joining Zadra for this release is a handful of friends who really flesh the effort out. There’s guest appearances from legendary singer Jeff Scott Soto, as well as his trusty band leader DDY. Furthermore, the every-busy Alessandro Del Vecchio contributes much in both the musical and songwriting departments. If this wasn’t apparent on the aforementioned tracks, than it sure is on the adult contemporary tinged AOR of “Come Back to Me” and “I’ll Meet You in Heaven”, which could easily fit in on any number of ADV projects.
After spending the last decade plus on the sidelines, August Zadra has stepped up to the plate and hit a melodic rock homerun. The guy can sing, write, and my goodness can he play a mean guitar. Heck, I’d love to see him and fellow Frontiers staple Joel Hoekstra get together and do a shred metal album in the future. Serafino, if you’re reading this, make it happen!
7 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: AOR
For fans of: Foreigner, Journey, Whitesnake
I’m a big fan of this album!!! I’m glad you already reviewed it!
Good stuff
Right there with you, GMan!!!
Not only is August a talented musician but he’s an incredible human being as well! He sings and plays guitar 🎸 at such a high level and this album showcases this well, and highlights strong songwriting skills as well. Imagine if this album had been released in the early eighties!
Great review!