Afterlife

Afterlife is the sixth album, bringing in Ronnie Romero as the new singer and leaning toward harder, more powerful melodic metal while keeping the smoothness of the old AOR. Released on Frontiers in March 2021. Joe Lynn Turner, who wanted a heavier direction, departed, and Romero — known from Rainbow, Lords of Black and The Ferrymen — newly joined. Michele Sanna took over on drums, with Simone Mularoni, Alessandro Del Vecchio and Nik Mazzucconi remaining. His strong volume and dramatic phrasing give new drive to the dense guitar-and-keyboard arrangements. Del Vecchio chose to steer back to the melodic path of the early records, and that aim shows in the title track and the advance single “Swan Song.” The texture where '70s-leaning hard rock crosses AOR meshes naturally with Romero's résumé singing in Rainbow. What's interesting is that it doesn't fully abandon the old softer appeal but ties it to heavier riffs and bigger choruses. Carrying long history and expectation, it clearly marks a new chapter — powerful yet careful with melody.