Dare - Calm Before the Storm 2 (2012)

Among fans of AOR / Melodic Rock, Britain’s DARE, formed by vocalist and keyboard player Darren Wharton (Thin Lizzy) has a legendary status, one that blurs line between cult and mystical. Every album they’ve released has been at least good, receiving critical acclaim.
But Dare’s first albums were not easy to get, especially in USA, such as 1998’s Calm Before The Storm which was only released in Europe. Then Wharton & Co. some years ago (2012) decided to give these songs a new life.
“Calm Before The Storm 2” is basically that album, completely re-recorded, with two previously unreleased tracks.

If you have the original you will love this as it sounds both familiar, quintessential Wharton and Dare, and fresh, with new life breathed into every track. For the uninitiated, it’s more than a great introduction; it will likely cause you track down other available Dare albums.
The order of the tracks on the new recording is a little different and so it’s the cover art, well somewhat if you remember the original one had a picture of a girl walking towards the sunset, it seems that girl has grown up a bit and turns herself into an exhibitionist. Nice eye candy…
These are slightly more polished versions and Darren Wharton’s voice is still as good as ever.
By very definition, Dare and “Calm Before The Storm 2” is quintessential AOR / Melodic Rock. It’s hard to find better.

Tracks:

1. Walk On The Water
2. Someday
3. Calm Before The Storm
4. Crown Of Thorns
5. Precious (previously unreleased)
6. Silence Of Your Head
7. Rescue Me
8. Ashes
9. Rising Sun
10. Cold Wind Will Blow (previously unreleased)
11. Deliverance

Darren Wharton – vocals, keyboards
Richie Dews – guitars
Paris Wharton – guitars
Marc Roberts – bass
Kevin Whitehead – drums