III

III is the third album, on which Giant returned after about a decade and reaffirmed the strength of melodic rock around Dann Huff’s singing and guitar. Italy’s Frontiers persistently courted the original members, and the trio of Dann Huff, David Huff and Mike Brignardello — minus Alan Pasqua — reconvened to finish it in late 2001. Much of the material was written earlier and left off the first two albums, yet thick riffs and smooth choruses convey the band’s warmth and power at once. In the interim, Dann Huff had become a sought-after producer, even handling Megadeth records. From the Van Halen-esque guitar instrumental “Combustion” into the racing “You Will Be Mine,” the album opens with momentum. The lyricism of the lead single “Don't Leave Me in Love,” the AOR-flavored “Over You,” the gentle “Can't Let Go,” and a cover of Robert Palmer’s “Bad Case of Loving You” are highlights. Rather than replicating the early-’90s sound, it draws out the songs’ appeal with mature playing — a comeback record that also stands on its own.