Reviewed by Ian Webber

A charity release by the American collective of artists who go by the name Liberty N' Justice. As usual, founder Justin Murr has collected together an impressive variety of guest musicians with names such as Eddie Ojeda of Twisted Sister, Tony Palacios of Guardian and Kerry Livgren to name just a few on the star-studded list. This recording was originally brought out as a five song EP in 2010, but eight tracks have been added to produce this full length recording. The listener is immediately transported back to the late '80s and the era of power ballads and hair metal. The overwhelming majority of this release verges on American AOR with chunky chords, layers of synths and anthemic melodies. Opening with a full-on rocker in "Say Uncle", we are also treated to ballads and a couple of covers in Michael Jackson's "Black Or White" and Skid Row's "Quicksand Jesus". These work well in most areas however the rap section in "Black Or White" is a little cheesy. The standout cut on the recording is the progressive "Ground Zero" led by Kerry Livgren of Kansas fame. This recording will evoke memories of years gone by and will be appreciated by fans of Foreigner or Bon Jovi. A proportion of the profits made on the recording will also be going towards The Epilepsy Foundation, a charity close to the heart of Justin Murr.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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