Over the past few years, Italy has presented us some potential bands to secure the future of AOR and classic rock. “Perfect View” is here to show the younger generation how it has to be done: recycled harmonies combined with all the major elements and song structure of the typical “Hard Rock style”, all melted in a 12-track masterpiece called “Hold Your Dreams”.

All the songs have a catchy tune to them and they feel right at home in your collection between Dokken, Tesla and even Whitesnake. If only they had the pretty looks of White Lion, they would be able to make the long awaited stadion-rock-revival. God knows we could use some rock on the radio these days...

Formed only in 2008, but with an impressive history of experience, the 5 members of “Perfect View” are ready to travel the world and go support legendary bands from the past on their (reunion) tours.

Would they ever make it to headline an entire tour though? Not with this album, I’m afraid...

As great as the recorded songs sound, there’'s nothing new or “special” to them, which would have made this album a “must-have”.

This was maybe all part of the plan though: the progressive elements they'’ve added, according to their description? I sure as hell didn’'t notice. Sure, it'’s fun and it brings back a lot of memories of the good old 80'’s rock, where the front row was reserved for female screaming chicks only.

And I must admit, as soon as you pop in this bubblegum sweet cd in your home hi-fi or car stereo you can’'t help of swinging to the sounds and you even might be tempted to try and reach the heights of Max’'s vocals, which –I must say sometimes go so high, they actually would make the glass shatter all around you.…

In general, the quality of the recordings is outstanding and clear (with the overwhelming part of the songs being ballads plus the fact you have to wait until the seventh song before you first hear an up-tempo rock song), and focused mainly on a female crowd.

Therefore, for a melodic-metal-loving-guys, they are a little bit “over-polished”. I would love to see them on stage one day, just to see if they would bring the songs with a little bit more aggression.

Of course, if the front row is filled with all fun-loving-females, I wouldn’'t mind at all if they played a few ballads in between either...

78/100

Written by Janimal

Track List

1. A Better Place:

The first song of an album usually reflects the atmosphere of the entire album, or it has to be the hit song. Strangely enough, I don'’t think this song is the best this album has to offer. The low tempo has an easy listening degree even your mother-in-law would appreciate, but then again, we don’'t buy albums to share with our mother-in-law, now do we? Also, with 5 skilled musicians like these, I hoped for a great instrumental intro of some kind.…

2. Closer:

With this feelgood song, you surely wish you were at the beach with you friends having a great time and just enjoying the warmth of friendship. Or, as I would put it: all great but still waiting to rock here.

3. One More Time:

Starts very promising (even with Paul Stanley’'s "“I Was Made For Loving You" chant at the start) but turns to be a more ballad kind of rock song. Great solo combined with the keys though.

4. Believe :

Another easy-listening pop-rocker with some dominating keys, reminding us of the glory days of Whitesnake.

5. A Reason To Fight:

The first real ballad in which you can really hear their craftsmanship. The intensity of the ballad is overwhelming as it should be. This is what “Perfect View” is all about.

6. I Need Your Love:

Another pop-rocker from the sort which made Van Halen great. With repetitive choruses all the way till the end.

7. Run:

Yes, here we go, finally some heavy rock through the speakers! The sample of motorcycles riding out isn'’t original at all, but we couldn'’t care less...