ALBUM REVIEW: Renaissance Rock Orchestra - In Times of Olde

RENAISSANCE ROCK ORCHESTRA (USA)
"In Times of Olde"
(Independent)
Release date: April 17th 2018
Genre: Progressive rock, symphonic rock
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RENAISSANCE ROCK ORCHESTRA is the brainchild of Gregg Fox, a keyboardist and composer who has played with an impressive amount of musicians and artists. The list is far too long to be included here, but names like Miley Cyrus, Chris Slade (AC/DC), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge/Cactus/Jeff Beck), Paul Shortino (Quiet Riot/Rough Cutt) and Howard Leese (Heart) should give you an idea of Fox's versatility and reputation.

RENAISSANCE ROCK ORCHESTRA is the result of an idea Fox developed after seeing the Trans Siberian Orchestra on several occasions after relocating to Las Vegas in 2009. He saw how this legendary ensemble had created their own genre, and felt that he too could bring something great into this unique style of heavy metal music. In 2011 the basis of RENAISSANCE ROCK ORCHESTRA was solidified, and Fox began writing and recording the EP "The White Gate Trilogy" in 2012. Deservingly so, it received a lot of attention and praise, and Fox started working on new material not long after. However, the passing of his girlfriend Monique, as well as his friend and RENAISSANCE ROCK ORCHESTRA bassist Michael Gerbino caused Fox to put the project on hold, and it took him until 2017 to resume the songwriting and recording of what was to become "In Times of Olde".

Mind you, this is not just like any other projects out there. Apart from maestro Fox himself, there are more than 20 musicians and singers contributing to the ten tracks on the album, making it a sheer All Star rock show - a gathering of iconic and legendary musicians. Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen/Dokken), Tony Harnell (TNT/Skid Row, George Lynch (Dokken), Bumblefoot (Guns N' Roses), Simon Wright (AC/DC), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath/DIO), Scott Rockenfield (Queensrÿche) and Alan White from Yes, just to name a few. Just to be able to gather all these people on one record is a monumental accomplishment on its own, but also the combination of styles could potentially make it a very difficult record to make.

"The Ice Age Cometh" is the opening track to RENAISSANCE ROCK ORCHESTRA's first full length album, and it immediately sounds like something that Yes would do if we were still in the 1980's. Eventually it becomes more guitar oriented, and I'm hearing a bit of Whitesnake, Foreigner and Deep Purple in the riffs and rhythm section. Vinny Appice does the drums, the aforementioned Michael Gerbino plays bass (as he does on several tracks on the album), Robby Lochner (Great White) does all the guitars, and Mark Boals himself provides the vocals.
This is classic rock with a layer of keyboards that gives the song a tasty touch of eighties' nostalgia, and it's a very enjoyable first meeting with the project.

The second track is "Secrets in the Sand" with Robin McAuley (Survivor) behind the microphone, and we're taken from the cold Ice Age to the warm deserts of the east. The intro is built around a Persian type of melody with sitar, flute and a single drum to set the atmosphere. Alan White is responsible for the drums, and although his playing is not as experimental and explosive as it has been since he joiced Yes in 1972, it is wonderful to hear how he adds his own special features to an otherwise very straight and steady drum beat.

This is what makes records like "In Times of Olde" interesting. Vinny Appice's drumming is very heavy and straight to the point, and though he's not really breaking new grounds on "The Ice Age Cometh", you can still easily hear that it's him playing.

This is the case on "Secrets in the Sand" too. Alan White has an unmistakable style that is easy to recognize, and I am very sure Mr. Fox is proud to have had this legend put his color to the music he wrote.

"J. S. Rock" is a neoclassical instrumental song that could blend in well on a Malmsteen record. "First Light" is another instrumental, but more ballad oriented. The themes on the latter send my thoughts towards Vangelis, because it has that certain type of sparkle to it. Quite an enjoyable little breather.

Each of the tracks on the album are very downbeat, and when "My Lonely Heart" starts I am starting to miss a little variation in tempo. It has the same kind of energy that was present on "The Ice Age Cometh", and though it is indeed nice piece of symphonic classic rock, but at this point the album as a whole is starting to seem a bit repetitive.

"The Author of Mystery" is another track with Robin MacAuley, and has a more progressive approach. The twinkling piano work of virtuoso Gregg Fox adds a Wakemanesque sparkle to the dramatic riffing underneath, and as "Galadriel" spreads magic through my speakers it becomes apparent where the composer's absolute strength is. This is three minutes of pure magic. Let's leave it at that.

"Alexander's Symphony" is another instrumental, and continues where "J. S. Rock" left off. The very basis of all the tracks on this album are very based around heavy rock, but when you add strings and piano in such a refined fashion as on this track, there is no place I'd rather be than right here, right now, listening to this beautiful track!

A soaring intro with a fretless bass solo takes us on a bit more personal journey. "To Be With You" is about Fox' previously mentioned girlfriend who passed away after the release of RENAISSANCE ROCK ORCHESTRA's debut EP, and it is a beautiful tribute. The line "We'll sing our song in heaven when I get there" pretty much says it all, doesn't it?

The final track on "In Times of Olde" is the almost ten minute long "The Maker of Dreams". Whereas the earlier tracks on the album tend to lean more to the symphonic classic rock genre, this has all the ingredients that you'd want from a progressive rock epic. Odd rhythms that suddenly go in unexpected directions, intricate vocal lines and the keyboards that Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Patrick Moraz and Tony Banks used to immortalize the golden era of progressive rock, thus only confirming once and for all who Gregg Fox' musical influences are. The track is epic, majestic, operatic and theatrical - a canvas with a million different colors, and you discover new details every time you look at it. To put it short, this track is manna from heaven for a prog fan, and a brilliant finale to an album that deserves all the recognition it can get!

★★★★★★★★★☆

Tracklist:
1. The Ice Age Cometh
2. Secrets in the Sand
3. J. S. Rock
4. First Light
5. My Lonely Heart
6. The Author of Mystery
7. Galadriel
8. Alexander's Symphony
9. To Be With You
10. The Maker of Dreams

LINE UP:
Gregg Fox - keyboards, piano
Robin McAuley - vocals
Mark Robert Boals - vocals
Tony Harnell - vocals
Bret Kaiser - vocals
Steve Conley - rhythm guitars
George Cintron - rhythm guitars
Bumblefoot - lead guitars
George Lynch - lead guitars
Joel Hoekstra - lead guitars
Robby Lochner - lead guitars
Francesco Dicosmo - bass
Simon Wright - drums
Vinny Appice - drums
Brian Tichy - drums
Brent Fitz - drums
Roxy Petrucci - drums
Scott Rockenfield - drums
Howard Leese - drums
Alan White - drums