Italian-American rockers Hardline have announced their long-awaited new album "Shout", their first record to be released on SPV/Steamhammer after departing Frontiers Records in early 2025. SPV are the same record label that features iconic German metal guitarist Axel Rudi Pell, another group that features Johnny Gioeli on vocals. Hopefully the new label can help provide Hardline with more of an edgier and heavier feel. It certainly sounds that way with their newest single, "Rise Up" which also features their new guitarist, Luca Princiotta after the departure of Mario Percudani in 2022. Andrea Seveso became their temporary fill in until a new permanent guitarist was found. This will be the first time the band will feature their new guitarist Luca Princiotta on an album.
Johnny Gioeli says he hopes to bring back the classic sound and songwriting style of the 1992 album "Double Eclipse", their debut album that featured Journey heavyweights Neal Schon on Guitar and Deen Castronovo on Drums, along with Todd Jensen on Bass. The band broke up a year later, as Neal Schon and Deen Castronovo returned to Journey. After a long hiatus, Hardline returned triumphantly in 2002 with their second album "II" - a refreshing mix of modern melodic and heavy rock, featuring a rebooted line up with brothers Johnny & Joey Gioeli, along side new guitarist Josh Ramos, Bobby Rock on drums & Michael T Ross on keyboards. It would take them 7 more years to release the long awaited third album , "Leaving The End Open", which featured Atma Anur on drums. Many fans thought this record would be their last but in 2012 the band reformed again with a new rebooted line up, featuring Alessandro Del Veccio on keyboards, Anna Portalupi on Bass, Thorsten Koehne on Guitar and Francesco Jovino on drums. The new era of Hardline featured more Italian-based members, due to Gioeli's Italian-American heritage. The comeback album was a big success, and thankfully Hardline decided to continue on. Returning to the touring scene in 2013 for the first time since 2002, to this day Hardline continue to tour heavily, even though they mostly perform in Europe and Germany. In 2016, Josh Ramos rejoined the band for the Human Nature album, which was another successful record.
Josh Ramos announced his departure from the band in late 2017 due to creative differences but was replaced with Mario Percudani, who performed on the 2019 album Life and the 2021 album Heart, Mind & Soul, until he left on good terms in 2022.
Hardline have always been a big revolving door of great musicians, over the years. It is great that they are still around today. SHOUT! comes out on CD in April 2026.
Brothers Johnny & Joey Gioeli formed Hardline in 1992 after a brief tenure during the 80's with their early bands Killerhit and Brunette. Despite the groups not being signed at the time to any record label, they were still widely popular around the LA music scene. In Killerhit, Johnny sang and played drums at the same time. For Brunette, he'd perform all of the lead vocal duties. Just when Brunette were about to get a record contract, the group disbanded and Johnny & Joey formed Hardline instead. Brunette made a name for themselves and even starred in the unreleased Roman Coppola movie Smash, Crash & Burn as the band Royal Smash. The finished film was set for a 1989 release date, but was shelved due to legal reasons. Joey retired from music in 2003.
Before the new Hardline album comes out, two more video singles will be released. "When You Came Into My Life" and "Shout".
The current line up consists of
Johnny Gioeli (vocals), Luca Princiotta (guitar), Alessandro Del Veccio (keyboards), Anna Portalupi (bass), Marco De Salvia (drums)
Shout! Tracklist
01. Shout
02 Rise Up
03 It Owns You
04 When You Came Into My Life
05 Mother Love
06 Rise Above No Fear
07 Candy Love
08 I'm Leaning Onto It
09 Welcome To The Thunder
10 Glow
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