Todd Michael Hall is known for his involvement with Riot, but this time he is striking on his own. Well, not completely on his own. It’s a collaboration with guitarist, Kurdt Vanderhoof, of Metal Church, who wrote all of the music for this album. Now that technicalities are out of the way, there is one thing you need to know. Todd Michael Hall is a superb singer, one of the cleanest voices around. “Off the Rails” is a different kind of record than what you would hear him do in Riot. It’s not a complete departure, but it presents a slightly different feel.
Hall and Vanderhoof had created a perfect melodic rock album. In fact, it fits variety of categories, be it AOR, hard rock, or just rock. The bottom line is that it is a great record with its own personality and mood. The vocal melodies created by Hall and catchy and instantly memorable. His delivery is outstanding, he makes it look easy, when in fact, it’s a lot of hard work. Once again, his voice is very distinctive, and what he does with it is quite magical. Had Todd Michael Hall came out onto the scene in the mid 1970s, he would probably end up in Rainbow or a band similar to that. Either way, he would be played on the classic radio today, if that was the case back then. And who knows, it may still happen.
“Off the Rails” is full of great songs, but it’s also a record with a very positive message. Hall is definitely putting a lot of feelings into his words, and how he carries out that message. There are songs here everyone can relate to, and find themselves somewhat included in the mix. “Start with Love,” “Are You with Me,” or “Can’t Get Enough,’ are absolutely brilliant, but then the same can be said about the rest of the songs as well. The one that gets very personal is “Name the Time & Place,” a song about a long-lasting friendship. This writer can certainly relate to this topic, where a friendship stays strong through the years, despite the distance that may keep you physically apart. There are more songs on this album that generate similar emotions.
This is a second album for Todd Michael Hall, collaborating with Kurdt Vanderhoof, and musically it is a very healthy and productive relationship. Vanderhoof plays some great riffs and fills it with tasteful licks. Miles away from what he normally does in Metal Church. “Off the Rails” is a very special record that focuses on authentic feelings, positive outlook, great melodies, and impressive vocal delivery. It’s an album that lights up the light at the end of the tunnel in 2024.
Mark Kadzielawa
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