I can't recommend this album highly enough, buy it and you will have 'No Regrets'.

Brazilian vocalist Rodrigo "Rod" Marenna has recently released his debut "solo" album, and having featured in several local bands over the years, he has gathered around him a fine selection of local talent to record with. His band is made up of Jonas Godoy (guitar/keyboards), Aaron Alves (guitar), Arthur Appel (bass) and Gionathan Sandi (drums) with the release also featuring a plethora of guest artists. Produced in Sao Paulo, it is another release from Brazil, a place that's suddenly a hotbed of Melodic Rock.

'Reason To Live' kicks off proceedings and it's an up-tempo rocker that's an ideal showcase for Rodrigo Marenna's vocals, which blend with a soaring guitar battle and together set the course for the album's direction. The modern AOR sound of 'Never Surrender' is easily on par with our Scandinavian cousins; superb pitch, keyboards and electric guitar work are all present. The AOR fans staple of "plenty of keyboards" is most evident in the wonderful 'Fall In Love Again'. The song 'Come Back' contains some delicate acoustic variation and slows the tempo of the album; you can also hear the wonderful harmonies of the backing vocals during this elegant song that fits so well in the context of the album.

One of the other highlights is 'So Different', a smouldering ballad complete with orchestral arrangements that give the sound such depth and beauty. The anthemic title track 'No Regrets', complete with its duel guitar and shout out moments, finishes the record on a high with a song that would not have been out of place in the States three decades earlier. Whilst the album does nothing new, it follows a well-trodden path and does so really well.

The melodies contained within the songs are fantastic and the whole album has been well thought out and packed full of eighties kicks. For a debut, this is something to be proud of and I'm sure it will tick many Melodic Rock fan's boxes who hark back to the glory days. Who would have thought Brazil would be the latest breeding ground for new Melodic Rock? Any more releases of this quality and they will start to give Sweden a run for its money – the 2018 Melodic Rock World Cup could well see a Brazil v Sweden final on the cards. I can't recommend this album highly enough, buy it and you will have 'No Regrets'.

Mick Parry