I’ve got to be honest over the last few months my interest in Melodic Rock/AOR has taken a severe beating. Too many new releases have been sadly lacking in originality and in memorable songs, to such an extent that I've actually found more interest in power/prog metal.

So when the enquiry from the Pedestrians Of Blue landed in my inbox it piqued my interest as the band described themselves as progressive melodic hard rock, a genre many bands have tried and failed at.  Influence wise P.O.B quote their musical style as a blend of Queensryche, Black Sabbath, Dream Theater and Toto - quite a mix and a lot to live up to. Personally I think they should drop the Black Sabbath name check as there is much of the Sabs in evidence but add the likes of Asia, Genesis and even Dokken - some of the guitar work in particular- to the list and you wouldn't be far wrong.

On first listening to the album the musicality and catchiness of the songs was stunning, however I wasn't at all certain about the vocals of Johannes Stole. Not bad by any means, just that they didn't quite fit with the musical style of the album. However the more you listen Crossing Over the more you cannot imagine any body else but Stole bringing these song to life. His vocal style may be hard to compare but it comes across as a blend of John Wetton and Phil Collins, particularly on the track The Garden. Mind you you can detect many other vocal influences subtly at play as he tells the story of young’s man struggle between family, love and religion - well according to the accompanying press release.

But all of that my friends is incidental as the bulk of the tracks on this album are excellent, if not immediate, and it has taken many run throughs for them to reveal their true glory. Take opening number Father & Son, which immediately brings to mind Wetton/Downes' Icon project thanks to a church organ inspired opening before a crunching riff takes the track in a completely unexpected, but melodic direction. Second song, Promises, is by far away the most commercial track and has been gaining airplay in the bands native Norway and it’s easy to see why as it blends HIM and the sort of stuff Def Leppard should be doing these days. The Garden sees the band flex it’s Queensryche influences to a certain degree with a tale of lost love and Where The Rain Falls highlights those Dokken influences I mentioned, albeit slightly more progressive, replete with an excellent musical break down.

The title track, Crossing Over,  is a mid-paced number that allows guitarist Torfinn Sirnes to flex his finger with a beautiful solo. Now up until this point the band had kept the musical excess to a minimum but with The Line, the only instrumental on the album P.O.B. are allowed to flex those muso muscles big style, descending into musical masturbation. Mind you after this the rest of the album keeps up the high standard set by the first half. How Much More Than A Dream and Why standing out but the final song Out Of The Rain really sets the seal on the album, a truly awesome track building and building in almost Dream Theater fashion  - excellent stuff.

Considering that Crossing Over is entirely self financed, self produced (Sirnes & Stole take the honours) and released on their own Fish Farm imprint then P.O.B have come up with an album not only full of excellent songs, but one that sounds like a million dollars - an achievement on it's own that deserves high praise. Couple this to the inventiveness of the music and what you have is an album that anyone who is open minded, and persistent enough, will find appealing and rewarding.

Let us know your views on Crossing Over

Track Listing

Father & Son
Promises
The Garden
Where the Rain Falls
Crossing Over
The Line
World of Things
The Other Side
How Much More Than a Dream
The Altar of Love
Why
Out of the Rain

Line Up

Johannes Stole - Vocals/Keyboards
Torfinn Sirnes - Guitars
Rudolf Fredly - Bass
Daniel Flores - Drums