Lovekillers Feat. Tony Harnell (Frontiers, 2019)

I definitely didn’t expect to begin and end 2019 with new albums from vocalist extraodinaire Tony Harnell. We started the year with the long-awaited third Starbreaker album, and closed it with the debut from Lovekillers, a new melodic rock project featuring Harnell alongside Alessandro Del Vecchio on keyboards, bass and production. The duo handled most of the songwriting with assists from some Frontiers regulars. It seems like everyone involved here had Harnell’s classic albums with TNT very much in mind when they put Lovekillers together. This is a straight-up melodic rock album with Harnell’s distinctive vocals taking center stage. It’s always a treat to hear Harnell on a new album, and doubly so when the songs are tailored to take full advantage of his considerable range and presence. The melodies, musicianship and production are all solid, but honestly they could fit on any of the Frontiers project albums Del Vecchio is involved with. Not bad by any means, but it’s Harnell’s vocals that elevate the album. The best songs on the Lovekillers album are the ones that channel that My Religion/All The Way To The Sun TNT sound, like the rocking “Hurricane” and melodic mid-tempo “Across The Oceans,” “Now Or Never” and “Who Can We Run To.” The whole album is really solid though, with nothing you’ll want to skip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oVrSvOyCpY

It doesn’t have quite the impact or staying power as the latest Starbreaker album, but Lovekillers is a really solid offering that satisfyingly scratches that TNT itch. If you’re a Harnell fan, especially of his more melodic TNT material, Lovekillers is a must-have.