Front Row - Warriors Wheel of Fortune Review

There is one thing about albums that is always making me very curious. That would be the ability some bands have to make such a shift in their albums that most of times the fan keeps thinking if it is the same album he has started to listen. There are albums whose opening track is totally different from the grand finale. I call them deceptive albums. They are more common than it would be expected. I don’t know if only around Metal music, but it does delivers albums that keep this tradition alive. That’s exactly what happens here with Front Row Warriors and their sophomore album called “Wheel of Fortune,” an album so catchy as a cold in a rainy day.

The album commences with a 1980’s intro full of those eletronic effects which lead to totally different direction than album opener “Chasing Shadows,” the track that presents perfectly the album plus the catchy and velvet voice of Elkie Gee. You know, I have such a thing for female vocals. By the way, “Wheel of Fortune” has that delicious feeeling of 1980’s albums with such a gluey intent that makes the fan singalong without even noticing. Ok, as I said, Elkie Gee’s voice is one of the most responsable for this. Have I already said the intro dissonates a lot from the album? Yeah, I might have. The thing is both have elements from the 1980’s, the difference is which elements. However, after listening to the whole album, the fan will notice they’re both coherent. Believe me.

As it would be expected, keyboards are a presence everywhere in th album. Sometimes more prominent as in “Dystopian Time” or in “The Hunter” where it takes the lead in most parts of both songs. Other times not so much as with “Fantastic.” But it’s there. By the way, this one has a great taste of Dio’s “Dream Evil” era. The chorus is so cacthy, but so catchy that I’m still muttering it. Grand finale is the long and acoustic ballad “Wasted Life” that gave me the impression of being inspired by Lita Ford’s “Close Your Eyes Forever.” Of course, it’s my impression, but the song has something of it in it. By the way, one of my dearest songs ever. Being inspired doesn’t mean to be the same, alright?

“Wheel of Fortune” is a great album if you are in the 1980’s mood. For sure, an album to singalong while you wash the dishes as Crypta’s Fernanda Lira did a while ago. A memorable moment…

Front Row Warriors “Wheel of Fortune” was released on June 09th via Rock of Angels Records.

Track Listing: