BONRUD
S/T
Frontiers Records 2004
www.bonrud.com

Read the Paul Bonrud interview

What’s the 4-1-1?
Long time studio musician/producer releases debut effort.

Genre
Hard rock / melodic / AOR

The Good
The album kicks off with the inspirational anthem “Leap of Faith”. The catchy lyrics are complimented by Hendricks melodic tone and Bonrud’s fuzzy riffs. There’s more conviction behind the vocals of “The Phoenix”, and the muted riffs are a little heavier too. The power ballad “Desperate Heart” combines clean single picking notes with piercing guitar licks. Hendricks’ delivery is truly heartfelt.

“I’ve Changed” has a very relatable theme and a musical background that has an eighties pop-rock feel to it, complete with a power bridge section. A somber guitar opening quickly turns into some hard-charging rhythms and intricate guitar runs on “Once in A Lifetime”. It’s not hard to see that Bonrud is about positivity with tracks like “Live Your Dreams”; a predominantly acoustic track with a sweet electric solo. “Look Me in the Eyes” is loaded with riff after riff after riff.

The Bad
The song structure is a little formulamatic.

The Verdict
Overall, Bonrud’s debut CD is a well-rounded melodic rock experience. It’s not hard to hear influences of Foreigner and Journey. If you’re a fan of melodic rock or just curious about it, it’s worth checking out Bonrud. You can’t beat the price either.

Did You Know?
Paul Bonrud is a big Journey fan.

Rating: out of 5

--George Dionne