Lifeline (http://www.lifelineproject.com) is not really a band; rather, it's the brainchild of guitarist Tyrone Williamson, who received contributions from several session musicians. And "Cry" isn't exactly a new album, either: Half of the tracks are from demos dating back to 1990. There is one thing about Lifeline that is definite, though. Lifeline marks the return of progressive rock, a genre that once dominated AOR stations in the '70s.
Before glam and grunge, progressive rock pushed the creative boundaries of the genre, whether critics agreed with it or not. Lifeline, however, doesn't submerge itself in the arty excesses of that particular style. "Cry for the Earth (C.F.T.E.)" is a Bush-bashing political anthem with a moody instrumental intro a la Pink Floyd or Queensryche. When the track picks up the tempo, it recalls Living Colour in its vocals and Metallica in its guitar power.
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It remains to be seen if a track as well-crafted as "Cry for the Earth (C.F.T.E.)" can find a home on FM radio these days. More often than not groups who do not know how to play their instruments receive the most coverage, and it's a sorry state of affairs. The older tunes on "Cry" are truly products of their time. The bone-crunching riffs on "Bedroom Eyes" is pure Metallica, back when Metallica were real and a weapon to be reckoned with. Hopefully somebody will send them a copy of Lifeline and remind them of the power station they once were.
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