Joel Hoekstra s 13 is a supergroup (sorry, we re calling it that!) comprised of former Black Sabbath and Dio drummer, Vinny Appice, Symphony X and Adrenaline Mob singer Russell Allen, bassist Tony Franklin (whose credits are exhaustive) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Sons of Apollo, ex-Dream Theater) in addition to the Whitesnake guitarist for which the band is named after. A music video for Finish Line has just been released and it should greatly appeal to fans of ripping 80s metal and stomping melodic rock.
What s best about this song, which leads the band s
Running Games album due Feb. 12, is that it s never egregiously overstepping its obvious nods to so many elements headbangers love about arena-enthused heavy music. There s a little bit of that same feeling you get when you hear the chorus to Journey s Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) and it s great to hear the muscle-armed Appice back in the saddle, pounding away with that unmistakable thunder.