“Damage Control”

JEFF SCOTT SOTO
‘Damage Control’
(Frontiers Records)
Release Date: 23rd March 2012

Jeff Scott Soto is a man who has it all, from the voice of an angel to the looks of an Adonis and to complete the package he is a genuinely lovely guy, having witnessed him a couple of times out in public with fans.

But he’s also a man steeped in melodic rock history, with an impressive list of albums and collaborations under his belt, and he’s certainly earned the badge for man most likely to fit in with any band in this genre.

So when I received his fifth solo studio album ‘Damage Control’ I was eager to hear it and I can honestly say its his best solo release for me to date.

‘Give A Little More’ is the first track and hints at what the rest of the album is going to deliver. It has the riffs, the breaks, the catchy chorus and is a lesson in how to write a pure melodic rock song.

Onto the next track ‘Damage Control’ and it stays true to this formula, which is exactly what I was hoping would happen and luckily so does the rest of the album.

If you’ve not heard any of Jeff Scott Soto’s solo material before, then this is an album that you must get on pre-order right now. So many tracks have that euphoric feel to them, and there are a couple of ballads ‘Bonafide’ and ‘Neverending War’ to bring it down to a slower pace.

‘Damage Control’ is released on 23rd March through Frontier Records.

On March 13, Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal of Metal Assault conducted an interview with legendary hard rock singer Jeff Scott Soto (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TALISMAN, JOURNEY). You can now listen to the chat HERE.

Soto‘s new solo album, “Damage Control”, will be released on March 23 in Europe and March 27 in North America via Frontiers Records.

An extraordinary performer and amazing vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto blasts through these hard-rocking tracks with energy and masters the transition smoothly from heavy rock to a delicate ballad.

For “Damage Control”, Jeff has turned to many of his past influences and most requested aspects of his career by blending the art of melodic rock with hard rock.

“I feel ‘Damage Control’ is more of a return to what my fans would expect to hear from me,” says Jeff. “It’s a perfect blend of my first two solo albums with Frontiers Records — ‘Prism’ and ‘Lost In The Translation’ — but also mixes in some of my favorite moments of my past bands such as TALISMAN and SOUL SIRKUS. It is heavy, AOR, hard rock with loads of great riffs and melodies.”

“Damage Control” was recorded in the fall of 2011 and features appearances and writing contributions by Jeff‘s former and current bandmates, along with many guests, including Jamie Borger and Nalley Påhlsson (TREAT), Casey Grillo (KAMELOT), Joel Hoekstra (NIGHT RANGER) and legendary Y&T founding member Dave Meniketti. Jeff states, “Y&T drummer Mike Vanderhule played drums on a track and suggested I bring Dave on but, as he is a long time friend and one on the ‘wish list’ of people I would have loved to have, I didn’t want to get an excuse that he was too busy or not interested, to my surprise I got neither… he was willing to do it and I was not only grateful but beyond pleased to work with another musical hero!”

“Damage Control” will be released in two exclusive configurations; the basic version in CD jewel box will include 11 songs, while the deluxe edition in digipak format has an additional three bonus tracks and a DVD.

CD:

01. Give A Little More
02. Damage Control
03. Look Inside Your Heart
04. Die A Little
05. Take U Down*
06. If I Never Let Her Go
07. Tears That I Cry
08. BonaFide
09. Elena*
10. Krazy World
11. How To Love Again
12. AfterWorld
13. NeverEnding War
14. Afraid To Die*

* Bonus tracks only available on the Deluxe Edition.

DVD:

* Look Inside Your Heart (videoclip)
* NeverEnding War (videoclip)
* Damage Control (videoclip)
* EPK interview

Jeff Scott Soto is currently planning tour dates that will support the release of the new record. “The plan is to do as much touring as possible wherever the world will have me,” he says. “I plan to promote this album with a proper touring regiment!” Source: Blabbermouth.net

“Look Inside Your Heart” video: