by Justin Gaines
– Senior Columnist —
Best known as the frontwoman for Heavy/Power Metal band Benedictum, Veronica “The V” Freeman is spreading her wings with the launch of her solo career. Now or Never is her debut solo offering, and she has assembled quite the array of supporting musicians and guest stars. Freeman is joined here by metal stars like Michael Sweet (Stryper), Garry Bordonaro (The Rods), Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Foreigner), Mike LePond (Symphony X), Tony Martin (ex-Black Sabbath), Leather Leone (Chastain), Jerry Dixon (Warrant), Jimmy Durkin (Death Angel), Mick Tucker (Tank) as well as her Benedictum bandmates Pete Wells, Aric Avina and Rickard Stjernquist.
You’d think given what you know about Freeman’s vocal style and the presence of her Benedictum colleagues that Freeman’s solo album would fall along the same lines as her work in Benedictum, but Now or Never is a very different kind of album. This is much more in a melodic hard rock vein, not unlike classic Dokken, recent Doro or pre-Sharon Osbourne Lita Ford releases. There’s still a metallic crunch to the guitars, but melody is the main focus of these songs, and Freeman adapts her vocal style perfectly to it. She still belts out songs with real power when needed (see “Rollercoaster”), but we witness more of her range and more melodic side on this album.
The songs on Now or Never have a Classic Melodic Hard Rock sound, and are surprisingly catchy with great hooks and bouncy melodies. “L.O.V.E.” is super-catchy, and between the excellent melodies and dynamic vocals on “Line in the Sand,” “Ready to Run” and “Below Zero,” Now or Never is an album that gets stuck in your head very quickly. It closes on a high note, with the metallic “King For a Day,” which features a duet with former Black Sabbath frontman Tony Martin.
If you’re a fan of Freeman’s work in Benedictum (and are OK with this not being full-on Power Metal), you’ll definitely want to hear Now or Never. It’s also an album that’s so well written and executed that it’s hard to imagine any fans of Melodic Hard Rock bands like Doro, Scorpions, Praying Mantis, Pretty Maids and Kiske-Somerville not loving this one. Here’s hoping Veronica Freeman can maintain the energy needed to deliver more quality releases from Benedictum as well as “The V.”
Genre: Melodic Rock, Heavy Metal
Band:
Veronica Freeman (v)
Derek Kerswill (d)
Track Listing:
1. Again
2. Now or Never
3. Rollercoaster
4. L.O.V.E.
5. Line in the Sand
6. Love Should Be To Blame
7. Kiss My Lips
8. Spellbound
9. Starshine
10. Below Zero
11. Ready to Run
12. King For a Day
Label: Frontiers Records
Website: www.facebook.com/veronicafreemanofficial
Hardrock Haven rating: 7.5/10
