Review: Giant – Stand And Deliver
Giant – Stand And Deliver
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Frontiers Music Srl
Release: 2025
Text: Martien Koolen
‘Last Of The Runaways’ (1989) and ‘Time To Burn’ (1992) are two essentials must have albums of the iconic melodic American rockers Giant, and the band even had a “hit” with their beautiful power ballad I’ll See You In My Dreams.
Sadly, I lost track of this impressive band after ‘Time To Burn and I never heard or “noticed” albums like ‘111’ (2001), ‘Promise Land’ (2010) and ‘Shifting Time’ (2022)…. Now, thirty-three years after their fantastic album ‘Time To Burn,’ Giant releases their sixth studio album called ‘Stand And Deliver.’ Singer Kent Hilli now fronts Giant, while Jimmy Westerlund plays guitar and founding members David Huff (drums) and Mike Brignardello (bass guitar) complete the line up.
‘Stand And Deliver’ kicks off with a soaring guitar solo/melody, which is the intro of the song It’s Not Right and yeah it is a punchy album opener in the veins of the old Giant stuff for sure. Follow up A Night To Remember is very melodic and catchy, while Hold The Night is very upbeat. Giant was aways appreciated because of their notorious gripping power ballads and on this new album It Ain’t Over ‘Till It’s Over is a 100% pure classic emotional AOR power ballad like only Giant can produce.
However, for me the highlight of this album is the last track, called Pleasure Dome, which kicks off with a huge, soaring guitar solo, before it evolves into a classic melodic rock song. Overall, ‘Stand And Deliver’ is an excellent powerhouse rock album and a “worthy” addition to the catalogue of Giant.
However, if you are more critical, you could also call the songs on ‘Stand And Deliver’ commercialized, accessible, radio friendly, inviting the listeners to scream/singalong to these well-crafted AOR-melodic hard rock songs.
Maybe the tracks are also a lot less varied than you might expect or hope for, but then again for this classic music genre it does not get any better than this; so, play it LOUD and enjoy!!
Tracks:
01. It’s Not Right
02. A Night To Remember
03. Hold The Night
04. I Will Believe
05. Beggars Can’t Be Choosers
06. It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
07. Stand And Deliver
08. Time To Call It Love
09. Holdin’ On For Dear Life
10. Paradise Found
11. Pleasure Dome
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