RONDINELLI (feat. Tony Martin & Neil Murray) – Our Cross – Our Sins 2002 [Japanese Edition +1 bonus] , MP3+FLAC

”Our Cross / Our Sins” marks the second release by RONDINELLI. In fact, this is the first proper album from the band, as their first, ‘WarDance’, included studio and live songs recorded in 1985, compiled and finally released in the mid-Nineties.

Early in 2000’s, talented drummer Boby Rondinelli (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Axel Rudi Pell) found some time in his busy schedule and with his brother Teddy, a seasoned veteran guitar player from the 70s, decided to resurrect the band. And they called two giants for the next RONDINELLI album; the mighty former Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin, and ‘I played in the greatest hard rock albums’ bassist Neil Murray.
“Our Cross / Our Sins” brings back that classy hard rock sound from the Seventies / Eighties. And with style. The first two tracks are pure Ronnie James Dio-fronted Rainbow, and most of the remaining tracks late ’80s Black Sabbath. And kills.
It’s not just Martin and his impressive voice, Bobby’s drumming makes a difference – the man is a fantastic, distinctive skin smasher. You hear a song with Boby Rondinelli playing, and you know it’s him without reading the credits.
This “Our Cross, Our Sins [Japanese Edition +1]” includes a fantastic bonus track, and a different track order that works great in our opinion.

Some songs are marvelous. Bull’s Eye, Naughty Dragon, Time, The Meaning Of Evil, are driven by classy riffs, huge clean vocals and that pounding drum sound. The drums are way out front in the mix, and although in a few cases is a little distracting, it really helps drive the songs with an incredible punch and energy.
Teddy Rondinelli offers up some big fat chunky guitar riffs that really are a tip of the hat so to speak to Tony Iommi. His lead guitar playing is outstanding and in a few instances, really spices up a couple of the weaker tracks on this album. Teddy’s playing has a very energetic and spirited style and really has an infectious groove to it. He attacks each song with a barrage of thick power chords and melodic and technical leads. Also sings very well, as heard in the song ‘Dawn’.

Some of the riffing on this album really brings bands like Whitesnake or Blue Murder to mind with their style and overall feel. A couple of tracks have a U.F.O. style of classic bluesy and melodic riffs with lots of lead fills layered overtop (a la Michael Schenker).

Tony Martin’s voice is as excellent as ever and he sings very much in the style he did in his Black Sabbath days. A lot of the lyrical subject matter is very similar and a couple of tracks sound like they could’ve been on a Sabbath album from the 90s. Just listen to the Japanese edition bonus track Ride On Fire, a killer groovy dark tune. It should have been included in the world CD version because this is a highlight.

You can’t go wrong with RONDINELLI’s ”Our Cross, Our Sins”, an album that should be more known among classic hard rock / metal aficionados.
Highly Recommended

01 – The Meaning Of Evil
02 – It’s A Lie
03 – Midnight Hour
04 – Naughty Dragon
05 – Dawn
06 – Find The One
07 – Bull’s Eye
08 – Time
09 – Ride On Fire (Bonus Track for Japan)
10 – Our Cross Our Sins

Bobby Rondinelli – Drums
Neil Murray – Bass
Teddy Rondinelli – Guitar, Vocals on 5
Tony Martin – Vocals

MP3 FLAC