Giant Promise Land
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
Since their 1989 debut Last of the Runaways, Giant has been one of the most highly regarded bands in the AOR/melodic rock community. The band, which was formed by brothers Dann and David Huff, released a pair of classic melodic rock albums as the ‘80s came to a close, but had been largely absent since then, reappearing briefly in 2001 with a new album and some live appearances. Now Giant is back…sort of.
Dann Huff, the guitarist/vocalist/primary songwriter of the previous three Giant albums is no longer in the band. He has become a sought after producer and didn’t have the time to commit to Giant (and hey, if Faith Hill and Shania Twain are knocking at your door, it’s hard to blame him.) Still, Giant without Dann Huff is like Talisman without Jeff Scott Soto or an Yngwie Malmsteen album without, you know, Yngwie Malmsteen.
This incarnation of Giant features founding members David Huff and Mike Brignardello alongside Winger guitarist John Roth and vocalist Terry Brock (Strangeways, Seventh Key). Brock’s presence alone makes Promise Land worth checking out, and could, against all odds, be enough to make this new Giant work. It doesn’t hurt that Dann Huff made some contributions to the songwriting process, as well as a solo or two.
Promise Land is a very solid melodic rock album with a definite 1990-ish feel. Just about everybody involved in this album is a seasoned veteran of the time when this kind of music ruled the airwaves, and that experience definitely shows. The songwriting, production, musicianship and vocals are all top shelf, and about what you’d expect from this group. Brock has one of the steadiest, warmest voices in melodic rock, and he turns in a first class performance here. Roth seems like a good fit as well.
Ultimately, as good as the album is there’s one thing that can’t be ignored. Promise Land is missing the heart and soul of Giant. These songs, which are all fairly well-written, seem somewhat sterile and less authentic without Dann Huff singing them. No one would begrudge David Huff the right to keep making music, but he should have treated this as a totally new band, which it is. Without Dann Huff, this just isn’t a true Giant album. If they had called this project something – anything – other than Giant, Promise Land would have been hailed as a triumphant melodic rock album. Somehow seeing that logo just makes the whole thing seem false somehow.
Bottom line: Promise Land is a good, solid melodic rock album, but it just isn’t Giant.
Label: Frontiers Records
Lineup:
Terry Brock – Vocals
John Roth – Guitars
Mike Brignardello – Bass
David Huff – Drums
Track Listing
1. Believer Redux
2. Promise Land
3. Never Surrender
4. Our Love
5. Prisoner of Love
6. Two Worlds Collide
7. Plenty of Love
8. Through My Eyes
9. I’ll Wait for You
10. Dying To See You
11. Double Trouble
12. Complicated Man
13. Save Me
Online: www.gianttheband.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 7/10