Artist: Indigo Dying 
   Title: Indigo Dying
   Label: Frontiers Records

Once again Frontiers Records release another slice of melodic hard rock, featuring the talents of Gisa Vatcky. This lady has worked with a glittering array of outstanding artists including Andrea Bocelli, Enrique Iglesias, Placido Domingo, Perry Farrell, Melissa Etheridge, Meat Loaf and many more.

This album is Gisa’s lead debut and is a studio project, put together to specifically develop her talents by Frontiers Records President Serafino Perugino and producer Fabrizio Grossi.  Musicians on the album feature, Mordechai Hauser (guitar), Fabrizio Grossi (bass, orchestrations, programming, acoustic guitar), John Macaluso (drums), Jamie Teramo (keyboards) and Tommy Denander on additional guitar.  Also featured on the album are appearances by former Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske, duetting on 'Breathe In The Water' and former Malmsteen/Ring of Fire singer Mark Boals adding vocals to 'Superman' and 'Fair Enough'.

The album opens with the almost gothic-like 'All I Never Wanted', this is still a very contemporary track with an Evanescence feel to the instrumentation and Gisa’s melodic tones flowing crystal clear above everything.

Next up is 'Hear Me', a catchy number and once again Gisa’s voice takes command of the song, sounding very much like a breathy Stevie Nicks before the chorus kicks in and Gisa belts out the lyrics over a heavy guitar sound.

'Breathe In The Water', features a duet with Michael Kiske, a slow intro from Gisa builds up to mid-tempo, it’s always a pleasure to hear vocalists who actually sing a song, the melodies once again flowing like a fresh breeze throughout the song and a really quirky guitar solo.

A piano with a Harem Scarem Mood Swings era guitar lick overlaid opens the next song, 'Better', and we’re into another catchy piece of melodic rock with a very contemporary update.

Then we’re onto 'Taken', think of any current popular contemporary american female vocalist and you get a feel for this song.  The vocals are outstanding again and really carry the song.

'Superman' is up next and the first to feature Mark Boals.  Opening with an eerie piano, guitar and vocal before the guitars take it up a notch and the two vocalists throw themselves wholeheartedly into the song.  The solo is straight from the 60’s with a very Morroccan feel.

This takes us into 'Island', a number that has some bluesy overtones, with quirky guitar passages and once again Gisa’s vocals carry the song along beatifully.

'Remember IOU', starts off slowly, building into a hard-edged rocker, the guitars demanding the listeners attention.

And so onto 'Real Life Fairytale' with it’s almost U2 style intro, this song is carried along on thumping bassline, with those gorgeous breathy vocal lines pulling the listener into the song.

Next up is 'Far Enough', the second song to feature Mark Boals, and  has a bit of a Jim Steinman style opening before the guitars and drums crash and pound their way through the speakers.

'Shattered Life' follows, and is another rocker, huge drums and guitars and vocal melodies coursing through the song .

Last song on the album is 'Go', a slow number with an acoustic guitar and keyboard carrying the song to the chorus, Gisa’s vocals once again oozing class.

This album oozes quality, from Fabrizio Grossi’s production, down to the playing of all the individual muscians involved.  The songwriting is top notch, every song a melodic masterpiece, with thundering bass, pounding drums and blistering guitar.  Gisa is an outstanding vocalist and this album showcases her talent to it’s best ability, contemporary, atmospheric, modern and hard rocking, this album has plenty to impress even the most hardened cynic.  This is a must buy for all fans of melodic hard rock, so grab yourself an entertaining present for christmas.

*Review by Brassy

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