I first became aware of Change Of Heart around the time of there debut, thanks in the main to the cracking track 'Don’t Walk Away'. The sophomore album 'Continuum' proved to be  a big step forward for the band and even now, some five years after it was first released, it still gets played regularly. Truth Or Dare, the third album from the band, may have been a long time coming but it certainly an album I have been looking forward to, more so since the recent interview we undertook with the band’s main man Alan Clark. So with great expectations in mind how does this fare. Well if you liked 'Continuum then you’re going to love this. Imagine the best bits of FM/Strangeways/Heartland and Change Of Heart blended into one and you will be somewhere close to what the band has managed to produce.

The album opens with 'Burned' which is somewhat similar in style to 'Blinded' from the 'Continuum' album and features amazing guitar and keyboard interplay courtesy of Dave Footit & Dave Chapman. Next up is the up-tempo 'Farlands'  featuring a great keyboard intro before the guitars kick in and drive the track along.

What AOR album would be complete without the BIG ballad . In this respect Truth Or Dare is served admirably in the shape of 'Desperate Heart' which brings to mind FM's classic Frozen Heart, although in a slightly heavier vein than that particular song. Despite utilizing the most over-used name in AOR fourth track in 'Hold On' features huge intro vocals and with the addition of Steve Overland who provides the backing vocals is simply a stunning mid-tempo potboiler - nuff said..

One of the big features of this album, as alluded to with the comments about the opening track, is the excellent guitar and keyboard interplay prevalent throughout. This high standard is by no means dropped with the next two tracks on offer here:-  first up 'Falling From The Wind and then the title track itself which adds in some fantastic vocal melodies to boot.

As with everything that I seem to have reviewed this month I can't get away from Bon Jovi references for some reason and in that respect 'Truth Or Dare' is no different. Opening with atmospheric keyboards and yet more excellent axe work 'Don't Cross The Line' does indeed bring the New Jersey heroes to mind. However to change things up a little 'Taking My Time' nods it head at British heroes 'Thunder' being based around a blues riff and incorporating Hammond organ into the mix, yet despite this slight change in direction it still blends in perfectly with the overall feel of the album.

'Keep On Believing' is AOR at its very best and a track that fans of this particular genre will lap up Iwith its big keyboard intro and stabbing keyboards during the verses and the very FM sounding chorus. Keeping up the FM analogy Steve Overland once again provides backing vocals to the equally excellent 'I Will Remember', another fine slice of AOR and one on which vocalist Alan Clark really shines. The last track on the CD listing is 'Never Fall', an acoustic lead ballad that would have ended the album in fine style if indeed that had been the end, however that honour goes to the unlisted twelvth track (Higher Than Love?) which is a great Heartland style rocker and brings to close a great album!

With fantastic production courtesy of Messers Overland and Morris, 'Truth Or Dare' is the best BRITISH AOR album I’ve heard this year, indeed perhaps the best since the excellent Double Cross release 'Time After Time' from a year or two ago and in places 'Truth or Dare'  even eclipses that album on several occasions. Anybody who is missing a fix of 80's style British AOR should really make the investment and add this album to their collection.

And to the guy on the message board who disagreed with my review of the 'Blanc Faces' CD, give this a listen in answer to your question of good AOR! And your quite entitled to disagree mate!

You can read our interview with Change Of Heart main man Alan Clark via this link

Let us know your views on 'Truth Or Dare'

Track List

Burned
Farlands
Desperate Heart
Hold On
Falling From The World
Truth Or Dare
Don't Cross The Line
Taking My Time
Keep On Believing
I Will Remember You
Never Fall

Line Up

Alan Clark - Vocals/Bass
John Footit - Guitars
Steve Morris - Acoustic Guitars
Pete Jupp - Drums
Steve Overland - Backing Vocals
Dave Chapman - Keyboards