P:O:B - Crossing Over
Self-financed

file under hardrock / aor

Vera: Mark you! This album is easy to get addicted to! Again and again you feel the need to push the repeat button when the last notes of the majestic ‘Out Of The Rain’ have faded out. This is rock with guts, with lashings of progressive elements towards the end because of the keyboards. But one may say as well that this is timeless hard rock that would appeal to an alternative crowd. Strong songs with excellent vocals, heavy guitars and now and then a guitar solo that would fit in an AOR context.

P:O:B (fully out: Pedestrians Of Blue) hails from Haugesund, Norway. Johannes Stole sings, plays keyboards (and pipe organ), percussion and programs. Torfinn Sirnes is the guitar player, but he knows how to deal with programming too. ‘Crossing Over’ is the debut album and the follow-up of a few EP’s. Although there was a huge interest of labels, they chose to release the album through their own FishFarm Records label. ‘Crossing Over’ tells the story of a young man’s struggle between family, love and religion. This theme is worked out with care and talent with staggering result.

‘Fater & Son’ opens almost religious with serene pipe organ, but soon heavy guitars join in and these guitars inn enormous dynamics all album long. Yet this song also has a melancholic tinge, mainly due to Johannes’ vocals. He has a very good, slightly sharp voice you will enjoy listening to. This first song is the only one with orchestral arrangements. ‘Promises’ is more a straight rock song with fetching vocal-lines. Same goes for ‘The Garden’. Here we hear a bit distortion on vocals, later on this effect is repeated in the marvellous ‘The Altar Of Love’. During both tracks, the name R.E.M. crossed my mind as point of reference, but if you liked a band like 3 Doors Down this is a must have album as well. Like I said before, this is vigorous, timeless rock with an emotional guitar solo in the title track. Mark the second guitar solo in ‘The Other Side’, because this one is featuring Daniel Palmqvist. Next to this there are lots of guest musicians on this album, but both founders and bassist Rudolf Fredly are the main core. A review of ‘Crossing Over’ would not be complete without a special mentioning of the eight minutes long ‘Out Of The Rain’. This epic and progressive track includes fragile, sensitive moments as well as wonderful soloing and peerless keyboard pads. Top notch class!

Rating 90/100 (details)

http://www.pedestriansofblue.com