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UNBOUND 'Unbound'
Out of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA comes UNBOUND. This is their first release which was put out in 1998 on J-Bird Records. UNBOUND play 80s typed Melodic (Hard) Rock and I hear clear similarities to other present melodicrock bands such as LITTERER, TEER, VOXEN/TALON, SAVANNAH, MILLENNIUM, ATTRACTION… But the band probably doesn't know these bands, so they got their influences from the 80s bands such as DOKKEN, RATT and TYKETTO.

Anyway, there are 12 songs on their debut CD and actually the beginning of the CD was very sensational. Opener "Time on the run" is a fantastic classic 80s melodic rocker with lovely harmonyvocals all over the place as well as hooklines and a very catchy chorus.
Like I already mentioned, this song is inn the same direction as bands like VOXEN/TALON, MILLENNIUM, EYEWITNESS… Hearing a song like this, I know that if it is heard by anyone from Z RECORDS or FRONTIERS RECORDS (the European Melodic Rock labels), then it wouldn't take long for them to get this band signed to their label.

Not the whole CD is in this same direction, because track number two "Chasin' the wind" is just a nice midtempo melodic rocker which brings back memories of the old TYKETTO. Next up is another cheesy (and classy) 80s typed melodic rocker titled "Make it through", this song is in the same style as the opening tune.

Though the rest of the CD is a tad heavier and is more akin to the style created by bands like RATT, ROUGH CUTT, KEEL… back in the mid 80s. Examples of this style are "Take no prisoners", "Shit comin' down" (FASTWAY meets GREAT WHITE), "In your face", "Loser" and "Overdrive". Songs like these are nice to hear, but I rather hear more melodic harmonyvocal (and hookladen) oriented songs like "Time on the run" and "Make it through" which definitely show this band at their best.

Remaining tracks I really liked are the semi melodic rockballad "Unbound" and the uptempo melodic rocker "Anymore". This UNBOUND is definitely a band to keep your eyes open for, because they may be signed to some European label soon. Especially if the would continue to write more catchy melodic rock songs in the style of their tracks "Time on the run" and "Make it through" in the future. I think a second CD will really make clear if this band is ready to attack the European scene. The band is currently working on a new release, so we'll know it later this year. The CD is scheduled for a summer release. For now, you should check out this great band at: http://www.geocities.com/unboundrocks
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