The Holy Grail is Hersey’s second release and his debut on Lion music.  It follows his highly acclaimed debut ‘Fallen Angels’ on Frontiers back in 1999.  Now four years later he returns to show the rest how it's done.

This album is more of the same high quality that Fallen Angels delivered.  On this release Hersey has gathered four fine vocalists the convey his lyrics to the masses these being Graham Bonnet, Carsten 'Lizard' Schulz, David 'Swan' Montgomery and Randy Williams.

The album takes its influences from 70’s classic rock while bringing it band up to date, and from the opening track is plain to see that Hersey hasn’t lost any of his guitar and song writing skills.  He has also found a star in David Montgomery from Led ZepAgain as he lends his velvet vocals to the first three tracks, the impressive ‘Blood of Kings’ and the bluesy ‘In The Light’ and grandiose ‘To The Sea’ with the strat of Hersey keeping everything ticking over nicely on all three tracks.

‘Blink of an Eye’ is the first and only time we here Randy Williams vocals on the album but what a contribution his more AOR styled vocals lend well to the track and is probably the most commercial track on the album.

The next three tracks feature the immense talents of Carsten Schulz who for me is one of finest vocalist in the melodic rock world today and he doesn’t disappoint.  His vocals mixed with Hersey's guitars really make the tracks.

The first of these is ‘Empty Planet’ which is no nonsense hard rock with Hersey and Schulz both at their immaculate best. The next track ‘Lost And Foolish’ has a definite Rainbow feel to it.  Whether it’s the Hammond organ or the vocals, it certainly has that familiar feel to it.

The last of the tracks featuring Schulz is ‘Calling of the Moon’.  A track that really shows what a talent Schulz is and highlights what a magical combination these two artists really are.  I for one would like to see these guys do more together, maybe even a full album.

The next track lets Hersey run amuck with the Bach’s Toccata in D minor.  The first of two instrumentals on the album where Hersey does what he’s does best and just rips on the Stratocaster like it’s a part of him.

The next three tracks feature the talents of the one and only Graham Bonnet.  The first being a cover of Don Nix’s ‘Goin’ Down’ and an excellent version it is too with Bonnet vocals lending well to the blues.

The second track featuring Bonnet features more of the sounds we're familiar with from Bonnet.  This track definitely has that Rainbow sound and must definitely have been written with Bonnet in mind.

The final track and title track featuring Bonnet’s vocals is ‘The Holy Grail’ and is the best of the three tracks featuring Bonnet.  He really does give his best vocal performance of the album on this track.

‘Auf Weidersehen’ is the final track and is also the second instrumental on the album.  It closes the album off with a regal style as Hersey makes the Fender Stratocaster sing like it was meant too, without all the high tech gimmickry and is a fitting end to a superb album.