Tony Harnell's Westworld

I was expecting something truly great from Tony Harnell. The Westworld project is one that I have heard alot about, and being familiar with his past works with TNT and even the "Morning Wood" album, I know the kind of feeling and versatility this man is capable of. The buzz surrounding the album also had me hyped up about it, and I have to say that this album doesn't disappoint even in the slightest. The production is so good it will knock your socks off. Every instrument is larger than life, soaring guitar riffs, a very solid rhythm section, and the appropriate keyboards and piano music where needed. The vocals are crystal clear, gorgeous and vibrant, full of life and emotion. Harnell just reaches out and grabs the listener with his breathtaking vocals.

Even with outstanding production, and performance, if the songs are not up to par, then the disc still suffers. This is definitely NOT the case with this release. Most of the tunes would have fit comfortably between TNT's releases "Tell No Tells" and "Intuition", with a dash of "Realized Fantasies" tossed in. This easily could have been a TNT release and no one would have known the difference. My three favorite songs, give a good idea of what this album sounds like, you have the really hard rocker "Bring the Water to Me" which is quite a powerful sounding song, it nearly knocked me flat, being more of a rocker than what I initially expected, with its light beginning that sounds almost like one of those acoustic songs from the 70s. Despite its often repetitive lyrics, the song is melodic heavy metal at its best. "Heartsong" is a power ballad in its finest form, lots of lapping acoustic guitar, and heart ripping vocals that steal the show, and a bit of violin used to its fullest extent here and there. The song begins in its most stripped down form and slowly spirals to a huge, plush ending. "Illusions" is a perfect example of a song that would have fit beautifully on any TNT release. With its strong keyboard melodies and heavy rhythm section backend, blistering guitar riffs, and soaring vocals, add in a gigantic addictive chorus and you have the blueprint for a superb hard rock song on the borderline of heavy metal.

This is an album that no TNT or fan of melodic heavy metal music can miss. One of its strengths is the fact that it essentially could be a TNT release, as classic as anything the band has ever released, and this cd, happens to be more solid and addictive than anything TNT ever did. I know that may be a long stretch for some to believe, but the songs are well put together, and Harnell's vocals sound stronger and more beautiful than ever. The huge, slick, tight production does nothing but add to the overall sound as well. Don't even wait for a possible US release, this cd is too good to wait on, and is already one of my picks for one of the top albums of 1999, and the year has just started. If that doesn't give you an idea of just how wonderful this cd is, then nothing will.