Originally published by L.S. Media. May 31st 2011.

Journey are, and always will be associated with the idea of stadium rock. They are heavy, musically talented and highly enjoyable to listen to and thanks (or not, depending on your own point of view) to the television programme Glee are easily recognisable to a newer, younger audience.

In 2007, the band saw the arrival of Arnel Pineda with his boyish good looks and a voice to match, fans that were still debating Steve Perry’s absence from the band were soon arguing on whether Arnel was in fact just as good as the main man that gave the world the voice behind such hits as Don’t Stop Believing, Anyway You Want It and Open Arms. The debate wasn’t helped by Journey re-recording some of these classic tracks for the Revelation album in 2008.

Since then Journey have been busy writing their second album, Eclipse, with Arnel in the line-up and whilst his voice still stands up as belonging to a great front man, it seems lost and slightly overlooked in the music that the band have created.

The vocals aside, the band have created a good album, so much so that it’s tempting to say it would have made a really brilliant and creative heavy rock instrumental album. With both Neil Schon and Jonathon Cain joining main producer Kevin Shirley, who had scored great success Mr. Big’s major comeback album earlier in the year, it could be a case of too many people getting involved in the final process.

There are some fine moments throughout Eclipse and it is those that really are the saving grace for the record and stops it from becoming an album too far for the current line up. Resonate for example has the classic feel of a band still hungry to reach out and touch their fans, however these moments are too far between.

Ian D. Hall