I’ve always had a bit of soft spot for female fronted bands. You’ll find the likes of Heart, Romeo’s Daughter, Saraya, Dante fox, Vixen et al nestled in my record collection and that includes a copy of Nexx's debut album, 'Colours' that was released a couple of years ago via Now And Then. 'Colours' may be a good album but with 'Another Dawn' Nexx have taken the vital next step and produced and album that blows the debut out of the water.

Opener 'Critical' which also happens to be the first video from the album, kicks off with the sound of Bernado Llobregat plugging his guitar in and letting rip with Van Halen-esque aplomb, before the stunning vocals of Patricia Tapia take over and the song bounces along with a hummable chorus. Listen to this on headphones, the backing vocals by Steve Overland leap out but Tapia more than holds her own and that is praise indeed. 'Critical' also starts a procession of songs which highlights the excellence of Llobregat's guitar playing and this is continued with the mid paced second song 'Hey Father' and the heavier 'Like The Poet' with its dissonant guitar effects and slightly angry pre chorus.

Fourth song in ,'Control in My Life' sees Nexx take a complete change of direction, an acoustically driven track that is slightly reminiscent of The Corrs. It has such huge mainstream appeal that, with the right promotion and a little bit of luck could break the band out from the relatively limited AOR/Melodic rock scene and take Nexx to a completely different level. Get this played on Radio 2 and see what happens.... Next up is 'Going On My Own' a huge classy power ballad that sees the band veer into Dante Fox/Saraya territory and this is followed with the more straight ahead melodic rock of 'Praying For Life', the ideal vehicle to showcase the exquisite vocals of Tapia and the first real use of keyboards on the album.

'Another Dawn' is a slower burner of track featuring one of the most tasteful solo’s I’ve heard in awhile and then, with 'Again' the band manage to bring to mind later day Harem Scarem with a song that could easily prove a show stopper live. After another straight ahead melodic rock interlude that is 'Caught In A Trap,' Guiding Star proves to be the final up-tempo number featured on 'Another Dawn', with a fantastic musical breakdown it is a song that finally builds to end a massive crescendo for an ending.

The final two songs see Nexx in a more laid back mode. Firstly 'Shine', an acoustic led piece that strays into Eva Cassidy territory and once again proves the perfect vehicle for Tapia's vocals that are more than a match for the late, great Cassidy on this evidence and then finally a reprise of 'Control In MY Life' rounds things out in the best manner possible.

To sum up 'Another Dawn' is truly and exceptional album and one that deserves all the praise and good reviews it is likely to garner. Although without a shadow of a doubt the stars of the show are Llobregat and Tapia the ultimate reason why the album proves so good is in the song writing department with all of the songs being top notch. 'Another Dawn' is an album that is rocky enough to please the melodic rock/AOR crowd but also has the potential, especially with 'Control In MY Life', to cross over into the mainstream and see the band gain a wholes new legion of fans. With a UK gig to promote the release in the pipeline at the Firefest II show take my advice and buy this album to get you in the mood - you'll be more than glad you did.

'Another Dawn' is released on October 9th through Angelmilk Records

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Track List

Critical
Hey Father
Like The Poet
Control In My Life
Going On My Own
Praying For A Life
Another Dawn
Again
Caught In A Trap
Guiding Star
Shine
Control In My Life (Reprise)

Line Up

Patricia Tapia - Vocals
Bernardo Llobregat - Guitars
Jose A. de la Banda - Bass
Oscar Perez - Drums
Benjamin Andrea - Keyboards