This Italian quartet came together in 2012 when some experienced musicians decided to join their different experiences and musical approaches into a brand-new band focused in a melodic approach and the pure song form. Vocalist and guitarist Marco Sandron (Pathosray, Eden’s Curse, Fairyland, etc), bassist Valeria Battain and lead guitarist David Donati (both known in Syrayde) were joined by producer-songwriter and drummer Ivan Moni Bidin (Pathosray, Ashent, Garden Wall, Syrayde, etc.) to put together a band heavily influenced by bands such as Alter Bridge, Sixx AM and Shinedown. Their 2015 debut ‘Daydreamin’’ garnered a lot of attention, and support gigs with the likes of Black Label Society and Gus G., an dthey are now back with the second.
I don’t quite what it is about Italy, but they are incredibly adept at producing bands that have mastered the melodic hard rock genre, and Starsick System are yet another fine example of this. Unlike some of their contemporaries however, they brought melody into the hard rock arena and haven’t wimped out into AOR. The result is an album that is incredibly accessible on first hearing, and is incredibly easy to listen to yet with enough balls that even the hardened metalhead must bounce the noggin in acceptance. This feels real and genuine, and is coming from the heart, as opposed to another falsely created project. I’d love to see these guys live as I am sure that when they are in that environment they are even heavier, but for now I’ll happily listen to an album that shows great promise. Melodic hard rock that hits all the bases is hard to find, but these guys do it with aplomb.
