This 1989 release by
Mass
was produced by group members and
Michael Sweet
, the singer from
Stryper
. Though the album credits end with a "God Bless," this wasn't a Christian band per se, the name more in line with those of other national groups from the Northeast region of America, the recording artists
Boston
and
New England
who also employed landscape monikers as their own. Singer
Louie St. August
, drummer
Joey "Vee" Vadala
, guitarist
Gene D'Itria
, and bassist
Kevin Varrio
define their
hard rock
sound more clearly here than on their
RCA
debut, which had them in a hard
pop
setting. On
Voices in the Night
, they really start crunching, and the '80s long-hair look and sound has more grit than many of their contemporaries, from
Ratt
to labelmates
Poison
.
"Chance to Love"
is a solid
ballad
which doesn't wimp out like
Extreme
's
"More Than Words,"
the heavy vocals blending nicely with the thick guitars.
helps keep things under control, but that doesn't deny
"Nine Tonight"
or
"Reach for the Sky"
their opportunity to blitz. This outing is just before the band would really come into their own with material in the '90s, exhibited by a five-minute track on
The Best of Boston Music Showcase: Boston Rock & Roll Anthology #16
,
"Under the Gun"
(not to be confused with a similar title by another Boston group,
Face to Face
), as well as some new music on their
Best Ones
compilation released in 2000.
is bright and clean
, the band progressing from their innocent formative years to a point where they should have ruled on early
MTV
album rock
radio.
"Carry Your Heart"
has the punch, but it also has the melody, these four guys real technicians when it comes to understanding the nuances of the genre they've made their life's work. While the aforementioned
broke up, and the group
makes an appearance every other decade,
just keep pounding away.
"Follow Me,"
"Miles Away,"
and the other components that make up
get an "A" for effort. That the music got even better after this is what is really extraordinary. [Four tracks from this release show up on
.] ~ Joe Viglione