by Derric Miller
— Managing Editor —
There’s few singers out there who were just “born with it.” Tony Mills is one of those guys; you can put him in the same ranks as a legend like Dio as far as someone who had no choice but to be a voice no one can deny or reckon with. Oddly enough, whether he is solo, or in Shy, Siam, China Blue, or any of his other projects, the quality never waned. Not an iota. Rare is the vocalist who puts every single song in his pocket–so you can imagine what happens when he sings the songs and writes the lyrics and is the mind behind everything on a release. That’s what his new solo album is, Beyond the Law, and just wallow in it, would ya?
You have to admit the cool factor is off the charts on a semi-concept album themed with gun-toting mafiosos, places (and women) of ill repute, violence, and the like. If you pay attention to the lyrics, constructed by Mills who has always been a strong lyricist but doesn’t quite seem to get the laudits for it, it’s like listening to a movie.
The title track pulls the trigger on the release, a song that sets the tone sonically and lyrically for the fun before you. Tommy Denander plays some strong, obesely melodic leads, and you can already tell this is an AOR release, albeit, one with a racing heartbeat. After all … machine guns! “You’ve got to know what you’re looking for, when you are beyond the law …” The story lead-in tells the tale of a man making his way up the family, doing what it takes to be a made man.
“The West Side” is a bit slower, initially, but then Mills starts to wail and yeah … it’s illegal how strong his voice is. This is New York, with gangsters, and a foreboding tale to tell, like, “The late night news fears it’ll end in tears, and you can bet your life, they’re right.” Buckets of adrenaline and melody greet you at every twist and turn.
“We went to church on Sunday, forgot it all by Monday,” is how “Running Guns” begins. That’s a stark reality, served up with keys and those uber-melodic Mills’ vocals. One of the smartest lyrics resides here, with the line, “Living incommunicado, Che Guevara’s of tomorrow.” If you are just listening and not following the story, that’s always been the Mills’ magic–the closer you listen, the more you get out of the song, but just HEARING it is an experience either way.
As the storyline draws to a close, the sax weeps at the onset of “Bonnie’s Farewell,” a heartfelt, earthy ballad. Timeless in its construct, it’d be a hit in any of the past five decades. In these kind of stories, there’s always a girl worth dying for, worth giving up everything for. And it never works out. For a brief, shining moment, it does here.
All hell breaks loose on “Gunfire,” which is the end of the journey. Now, Mills throws the crooning away and snarls vocally as the tale unravels. There’s no escape except death or jail (if you want to drop a dime on someone) in stories like this, and if the song is called “Gunfire,” they probably ain’t shooting bars at you. “The lights went out, they hit the ground. On Temperance night, the only sound was … gunfire.” Sort of unholy wailing happens before the searing guitar solo, and well, ready the gravestones.
Beyond the Law is just another gem in Mills consistent streak of always being on top of his game, regardless of the band, project, or solo effort. As a singer, he just “gets it.” While he doesn’t get enough credit for his creativity as a lyricist and his vision when creating his art, that’s probably because he’s just such a damn good singer. This is one of the year’s best Hard Rock/Melodic Rock albums, so pack some heat, grab a bottle and a dame, and enjoy …
Genre: Hard Rock/Melodic Rock
Band:
Tony Mills – vocals
Tommy Denander – guitar, keys
Linda Mills – bass
Pete Newdeck – drums
Tracklisting:
1. Beyond the Law
2. The West Side
3. Running Guns
4. We Sold Your City
5. Black Sedan
6. F.B.I.
7. Crackin’ Foxy
8. Code of Silence
9. Bonnie’s Farewell
10. Gunfire
Label: Battlegod Productions
Online:
https://www.facebook.com/tony.mills.31
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8.9 / 10)
