Track Listing
· Restless Heart (2)
· Two Strangers
· The Power (1)
· Ambrosia
· Golden Years
· Show Your Love
· Forever's Heart
· Hello + Goodbye
· Once Touched
· Soul Surrender
· Last To Know (3)

(*) Best Tracks

Buy it if you liked:
Poley-Picher - Big
91 Suite
Von Groove - Test of Faith
Grand Illusion - View From The Top
FINAL FRONTIER
The First Wave
Z Records
· Produced By: Final Frontier
· Running Time: 48.20 · Release Date: November 1
· Released: EU · Genre: AOR
· LabelLink: Z Records
85%

Final Frontier is a partnership project between Von Groove's Mladen and singer/songwriter Rob Moratti.
This is a great album - very enjoyable - but something needs to be made clear. This is a classic AOR sounding album.
How classic? Well, it not just an 80's keyboard/guitar/melodic friendly release, it sounds like it could have been released in 1983.
Not that the production is dated - it's solid and Mladedn's fat guitar sound holds the album together. It's just that this is an old school AOR release - which is bound to please some, but not others.
Moratti has a touch of Dennis DeYoung, as does the music - they vocal layers does remind me of early 80's Styx in a few places. But generally, he is just a good singer with a higher octave voice, perfect for the material at hand.
If Nelson had of released their debut in 1985 - it might have sounded a bit like this.
As for the songs - generally good stuff on offer here. Plenty of hooks, and catchy melodies.
If you thought the lead song Restless Heart was as catchy as hell, just check out The Power - certainly one of the best AOR hooks of the year and a monster hook! Add Last To Know to that also - big classic bombasic 80's AOR.
Show Your Love is also very good, as is the big uptempo track of the album - Once Touched.
Tracks like Golden Years might just be a little too 80's, but for the most part, every track has it's merits, with layers of vocals and an easy going pop rock feel.
As is the sound, the lyrics are also very classic 80's. I think just about every track is boy meets girl, broken hearts, be good to each other kinda stuff. That's ok, but it's not for everyone.
Good running time and track running order, but one of the worst CD covers in living memory. Don't be put off by it, the contents are far superior.

The Bottom Line
A very good, solid, classic AOR release.
If nu-breed is your thing - this will certainly be far too sweet. If Melodica, early 80's (ballad) Journey, 91 Suite and Eva do it for you, then this needs checking out.
If you like uptempo rock ballads with high pitch vocals and sweet harmonies and that big keyboard driven classic 80's sound, then this is a worthy purchase without doubt.

Line Up
ROB MORATTI - Singing Lead Vocals and All Background Vocals.
MLADEN HAZE - Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Bass Guitar and Keyboards

Additional Ratings
Songwriting
80%
Attitude
88%
Production
85%
Sundries
70%

AOR Heaven NEH Records Z-Roxx Loud 1 Destiny Hot Tracks Target Wishing Well Loud Metal Perris

28/09/03: Geoff - g.a.wols@ponl.com
Rating: 80
Must admit I am not usually gripped by this brand of AOR, but this is a very good CD! Great melodic hard rock which oozes class.

'Restless Heart' is a lovely melodic rock opener with a huge hook, and it is very soon you realise this is going to be good. (2)
'Ambrosia' is an exellent balladic tune and another album winner, as is 'Hello + Goodbye' - great melodic rocker.
Without doubt, though, the albums finest moment comes in the last track, 'Last To Know'. F*cking hell, what a song! Why can't Von Groove still record tracks like this. Blisterning melodic rock anthem - perfect verses leading into a huge, catchy and equally perfect chorus. Killer song and worth it alone!

04/04/03: Freddy De Keyzer - freddydekeyzer@hotmail.com
Rating: 80
Good debut, but not that special. The production is rather poor. Where are the seventies and eigthies ? These were great times for AOR !

03/03/03: erik - erikhardam@hetnet.nl
Rating: 92
Wow. Back to the good old days ! Excellent album. A real feel good album. All songs are top notch. Great vocals and splendid harmonies. Yep i will be playing this one a lot. Where is the summer ?!

28/01/03: tony - crudot@harbornet.com
Rating: 100
Perfect!! As good as it gets if you loved Styx, Journey and great harmony bands of the 80's. Put it on the Car CD player and crank it. It is worth every penny. Lets hope that they just keep cranking this stuff out and keep us all happy for the rest of our lives!! Lifetime fan here.

17/01/03: Danny M. - mello423@hotmail.com
Rating: 99
LONG LIVE CLASSIC AOR!
THIS IS WAY OUT OF CONTROL...TIMING COULD NOT BE BETTER!
VERY SHARP, WHAT CAN I SAY....VERY VERY SHARP!
This only happens once in a long while so take advantage
of the new Classic AOR! Everything about it is very sharp!
If you like Journey or the real Boston they're worth a listen.

05/01/03: Greg N. - noblegreg123@hotmail.com
Rating: 100
THIS IS A MAGICAL CD!!
It's as if Styx teamed up with Starship and then Boston, recorded a great bunch of songs and then barried them all in a vault.
Over 20 years later they pulled out this Treasure, remix it
for a new sounding production and here you have it.
AOR to the max!
It doesn't get any better than this.

01/01/03: Barry N. - Barnel79@hotmail.com
Rating: 99
I remember the days when melodic music would give me goose bumps, guys like Brad Delp and Mickey Thomas were out of this world. Ever since the early eighties not one band was compatible
to this style of music. Bands like Europe and Alias came close
but that's where it ended. So now, out of the blue here comes
Final Frontier! Like some sort of lost ship we've been waiting for so so long. This band has brought back the early AOR sound
big time! They're doing what the old timers aren't even considering anymore. These guys are going huge so let's hope the new generation picks up on it. WOW! I get the goose bumps
just talking about Final Frontier.
John is right about Rob's voice, it's unbelievable to listen to today. Thanks Rob!
Andrew is also right about the CD cover, then again bands have made it in the past with barely anything on the cover.
I rate them 99 for being polished!

29/12/02: John J. M. - jjmoore859@hotmail.com
Rating: 99
Finally, a band that completely blows me away! Yes, it's classic AOR but I haven't heard anyone lately pulling it off
like Final Frontier. These guys have mastered the real true sound of melodic rock. This is definitely what we needed!
Serious songs and with some very serious Vocals.
Way to go guys! Looking forward to hearing some more!

27/12/02: Jonny B - froloth@hotmail.com
Rating: 89
There isn't much more I can comment on Final Frontier because Andrew basically hit the mark. "A classic AOR sounding album....sounds like it could've been released in 1983." His favorite picks are the same as mine, but in a different order (For me, #1: Restless Heart, #2: The Last To Know, #3: The Power). Thanks for the great review, Andrew.

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