Indicco - Karmalion

08.08.2013 , Kev Rowland

Indigo Balboa and Paco Cerezo started composing songs together in 2008. At the time Paco had just left the melodic rock band 91 Suite, while Indigo had just returned to Spain from California where he had been working with Mark Spiro on his second solo album. They soon decided that they needed to get a band together for their material, and for the purposes of the album they brought in Antonio Muñoz (ex-91 Suite) on bass, Lean Martinez (ex-91 Suite) on drums and Angel Valdegrama on keys. Of course, they also made use of their contacts and brought in Mark Spiro (Bad English, Giant, John Waite, Mr. Big) to assist with the writing, as well as providing more vocals, keyboards and producing, Jimi Jamison (Survivor) sings co-lead with Indigo on three songs while also co-writing a number, while Tim Pierce (Rick Springfield, John Waite, Eric Martin) provides additional guitars.

But, and it is a huge but, this is not an over-sanitised sugary schmaltzy AOR album, but instead is coming from the hard rock arena with plenty of melodies and harmonies. The vocals are wonderful, with a real power and breadth so that it almost feels like the listener can go for a walk on them, as opposed to the thin weedy stuff that sometimes comes from this area. The guitars carry a punch, and while this album is very much at the Nickelback/Survivor end of hard rock, it is an enjoyable romp and something that is accessible the first time it is played and just keeps growing. Good stuff.