Hardline – ‘Shout’

(SPV/Steamhammer)

Hardline have always understood the beating heart of melodic hard rock, huge hooks, towering vocals, muscular riffs and choruses designed to be shouted back from the front row. With Shout, they haven’t just delivered another strong record in a respected catalogue, they’ve unleashed a full-blooded statement of intent. This is the sound of a band firing on all cylinders, sounding hungry, inspired and absolutely electrified. For fans of the genre, this is not just recommended listening, it feels essential.

From the moment this album kicks into gear, it comes at you with the kind of punch and swagger that reminds you why melodic hard rock remains such a thrilling form when done right. There’s no easing into things here. Shout grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go, packed with energy, confidence and those colossal melodies Hardline have built their reputation on. Every riff bites, every chorus lands with knockout force, and the whole record has that glorious, larger-than-life feel that practically demands it to be played at irresponsible volume.

And really, that’s one of the album’s greatest strengths, it sounds alive. Not polished into sterility, not chasing trends, not trying to reinvent a wheel that never needed fixing. It simply delivers the goods with conviction. There’s a raw, uplifting electricity running through these songs, a sense of momentum that keeps the album surging forward. It feels urgent, pumped full of adrenaline and attitude, yet never sacrifices the melody that makes this style so addictive.

What really elevates Shout into something special is its consistency. That’s a word often overused in reviews, but it matters here. This album doesn’t sag, doesn’t lose focus, doesn’t feel padded. It’s all killer, relentlessly so. There’s a sharpness to the songwriting that recalls classic melodic hard rock’s golden age while still sounding vibrant and current. Hooks come thick and fast, choruses explode, riffs roar, and the band sound utterly locked in.

And then there’s Johnny Gioeli.

What can you even say at this point that hasn’t already been said about one of the greatest voices in melodic rock? Yet somehow, he continues to raise the bar. His performance on Shout is absolutely phenomenal. Powerful, passionate, commanding, but also packed with soul and character. He doesn’t merely sing these songs; he launches them into the stratosphere.

Gioeli has always possessed that rare ability to combine raw hard rock grit with soaring melodic finesse, and here he sounds inspired. There’s fire in every line. His voice cuts through the mix with incredible force, but it’s the emotion and conviction behind it that truly lands. This album is another reminder of why he remains one of the genre’s elite vocalists, and frankly why he should be spoken about even more often in discussions of all-time melodic rock greats.

The band around him are equally formidable. Luca Princiotta’s guitar work is razor-sharp and muscular, loaded with crunch, melody and flair. Rhythmically, the whole thing pounds with real authority. There’s groove, weight and drive in abundance. Everything feels built for maximum impact, but never at the expense of songcraft. That balance of power and melody working hand in hand is exactly what Hardline have always done well, and Shout might be one of the purest distillations of that formula they’ve delivered.

And yes, whisper it… this may well be their finest work since the debut.

That’s not said lightly, because that first album casts a long shadow. But Shout has a strong case. At the very least, it feels like their most consistent record since those early glory days, perhaps even their most focused. There’s no filler here, no moments where your attention drifts. Just one anthem after another, delivered with hunger and class.

What also strikes me is how live these songs feel. You can practically see them exploding onstage. Several of these cut’s sound destined to absolutely blow the roof off venues. Big gang choruses, fists-in-the-air refrains, riffs made to ignite a crowd, the album is overflowing with moments that scream live staples. It has that rare quality where you can hear the audience response before the songs have even hit the stage.

There’s also something wonderfully unapologetic about Shout. In an era where so much rock either leans into nostalgia or tries too hard to modernise itself into blandness, Hardline simply deliver a melodic hard rock album with total belief in what they do. No gimmicks. No compromise. Just massive songs, huge vocals and pure rock ‘n’ roll exhilaration.

And honestly? That’s exactly why I’m loving this record so much.

The title track ‘Shout’ kicks the doors off the hinges with all gun’s blazing, bursting out with urgency, attitude and a chorus built to be screamed back by a packed-out crowd. There’s an old-school hard rock swagger to it, but with a fresh fire running through its veins. It sets the tone perfectly, loud, confident and unapologetically anthemic. Johnny Gioeli sounds immense right from the off, delivering a vocal performance packed with grit and authority.

If the opener gets your blood pumping, ‘Rise Up’ keeps the adrenaline surging. There’s a driving, uplifting energy here that feels absolutely made for live stages. Huge melodies collide with muscular riffs, and the whole thing has that classic fist-in-the-air melodic rock spirit Hardline do so well. It’s inspirational without becoming syrupy and powerful without losing its hook-laden sheen.

Now this is where the album digs in and shows its teeth. Darker, heavier and carrying a tougher edge, ‘It Owns You’ has real bite. There’s a relentless groove running underneath it, and the chorus hits like a freight train. It’s got menace and melody in equal measure, and the band sound locked in and absolutely ferocious. A real powerhouse cut.

Taking on a Scorpions classic is no easy task, but Hardline absolutely make ‘When You Came Into My Life’ their own while respecting the soul of the original. Rather than merely recreating it, they inject it with their own melodic hard rock identity. Gioeli, unsurprisingly, shines here, delivering a vocal full of warmth and emotion. It’s a beautifully judged cover and a great change of pace within the album’s flow.

‘Mother Love’ has a real emotional weight to it, but still carries serious punch. There’s heart and power working together beautifully, with a rich, classic Hardline feel coursing through it. The chorus soars, the arrangement feels huge, and Gioeli turns in one of his most impassioned performances on the album. A standout moment.

Back into anthem territory and what an absolute stormer ‘Rise Above No Fear’ is. Everything about it screams melodic hard rock gold, driving rhythms, uplifting hooks and a chorus that feels tailor-made to ignite a festival crowd. It has that classic “turn it up and hit the highway” energy, and it’s impossible not to get swept up in it.

There’s a sleazy, playful swagger to ‘Candy Love’ that gives the album another flavour while still fitting perfectly. Big hooks, attitude for days and a groove that just struts. It’s catchy as hell and pure fun, but still played with precision and class. Hardline know exactly how to make this kind of song land, and they nail it.

‘I’m Leaning On It’ is one of the album’s most infectious moments. There’s something instantly addictive about this track, from its groove to its massive melodic payoff. It carries a real feel-good spirit but still packs enough crunch to keep the hard rock credentials intact. Another reminder of just how consistent this album is, even this deep into the track list, the quality doesn’t dip.

‘Welcome To The Thunder’ - what a title. And thankfully, it delivers exactly what you’d hope. This thing stomps in with monstrous intent. Big riffs, thunderous rhythms and a chorus absolutely built to blow the roof off live. There’s a dramatic, almost cinematic quality to it that makes it feel larger than life. One of the album’s biggest “arena moments,” and an absolute beast.

‘Glow’ is a superb closer. Rather than simply going out with brute force, Hardline finish on something that feels soaring, uplifting and emotionally resonant. There’s a sense of triumph here, of ending the record on a real high. It glows, quite literally, with melody and atmosphere, and rounds the album off in style.

It’s been on heavy rotation on my stereo and shows no sign of leaving. Every spin reveals another hook, another vocal moment, another riff that demands replay. It has that classic quality the best albums in this genre possess, the ability to make you want to crank it louder every single time.

For longtime Hardline fans, Shout feels like a triumph. For melodic hard rock devotees, it feels indispensable. It captures everything we love about the genre, power, melody, heart, bombast and delivers it with style to spare.

Bottom line? Shout absolutely rips.

Punchy, energetic, hook-laden and bursting with life, this is killer melodic hard rock played with passion and precision. A record that reminds you why this music still matters, and why Hardline remain such an enduring force.

Turn it up loud. Then louder.

This one was made to shake walls.

9/10

Essential Track – ‘Shout’

Review by Woody