After a long hiatus since the last 'War & Peace' album, 'Jeff Pilson' returns with another crafted instalment of his melodic Hard Rock / Metal. As is usually the case 'Jeff' handle most instruments and in all honesty I don't know why he just doesn't release under the banner of 'Pilson', that said he's hired some big name guest guitarists, which certainly gives this album more appeal to those who might ordinarily overlook 'Jeff's' work.

'Light at the End of the Tunnel' opens with the rocker 'What Cost War', a surprisingly intense and hostile track, which sees former 'Dokken' / 'Europe' guitarist 'John Norum' doing what he does best, while 'Jeff's' slightly more aggressive delivery compliment the style, to make this a fine opener. Into more familiar territory is 'The Night you Walked Away' a mid paced track that wouldn't look out of place on a recent 'Dokken' album, that said, full credit to 'Jeff', this is a soundly executed track that's further enhance by the skilled fret work of 'Reb Beach' and 'Jeff's' soulful vocals. Better still is the out and out rocker 'Wrong Place Wrong Time', a brisk cut, that while simplistically penned, is very catchy and supported by a stunning guitar solo from 'Paul Gilbert' for possibly the albums sharpest cut. The strong run continues with the excellently written 'Playing God Again', a very melodic track and with the exception of the drumming, 'Jeff' provides all other instruments including a very respectable guitar solo. The more uptempo 'Solitary World' ensues and overlooking a slightly more modern approach can't be faulted, I detect a tad of 'Beatles' influence, but overall this comes together startlingly well, 'Jeff's' guitar and vocal work is top notch and this lighter, easier going track is another treat. The tempo falls for the melodic ballad 'In the Dead of Night', a likeable song, but one that doesn't quite grab me as much as many on this album, that said the chorus is particularly strong and 'Jon Levin' provides solid fret work. The dark ballad 'Sweet Release' follows and I give 'Jeff' credit as this album is full of variety, that said this number doesn't flow quite as well as it could. Next up is the title track and this is a little disappointing, a fairly crude affair, with modern industrial undertones and lyrically it's not a patch on what we are used to from 'War and Peace' albums. 'Stay out of my Mind' ensues and you might have heard this track before… yes that's right it's from 'Dio's' 'Angry Machines' penned by 'Jeff', not one of my favourites from that album and while this is an improvement still far from a top cut, even with 'Ritchie Kotzen's' fret work. The album bows out with 'Cast the Stone' a semi epic which highlights 'Jeff's' glorious vocals, the intro is a little tiring, but the song constantly transforms with darker then operatic and gothic inspired sections for an eclectic but impressive song- the comical barber shop singing tagged on to the end wasn't really necessary!

Another excellent release from 'Jeff Pilson', in fact the first half is superb, perhaps a little experimental in the second, but this betters 'Dokken' comparatives 'Erase the Slate' and wipes the floor with 'Long Way Home', 'Dokken' fans should be checking this out!