Survivor
Eye Of The Tiger

THE REVIEW

To shake up and highlight a group's career and to achieve the much-coveted fame, it is necessary to make the so-called leap in quality, that is, the release of an album, or perhaps a single, that manages to win over thousands of fans and allows one to write their name in the book of rock history.

"Eye Of The Tiger" represents the album of commercial success for Survivor, an American band led by guitarist/keyboardist Jim Peterik, achieved mainly through the title track, released as a single and made known to the public as part of the soundtrack for the famous film Rocky III, dominating the Billboard magazine charts for 7 weeks and earning the group a Grammy Award.

The track offers a brisk, energy-packed rhythm that fits well with the movements of boxing. "Feels Like Love" compared to the previous track sees greater use of keyboards, especially in the chorus, and features a Peterik providing inspired and classy riffs, which would become his trademark. The following "Hesitation Dance" is a highly energetic song, starting with guitars in clear Ac/Dc style and very well interpreted by singer Dave Bickler.

"The One That Really Matters" is the third single selected by the band that confirms the melodic style at the start of the album and that touch of aggression provided by Peterik's guitar. "I'm Not That Man Anymore" brings a slight slowdown in rhythm, even though in the chorus the drums and Bickler's voice become more incisive, to give more emphasis to the melancholic tones of the piece.

The subsequent "Children Of The Night" gives back to the listener the energy and charge, once again guaranteed by the careful work of Peterik's guitar, leaving keyboards almost in the background. Keyboards which, however, turn out to be the protagonists of "Ever Since The World Began", a song with a strong sentimental and touching tone at some points, highlighting the talent in searching for engaging but never banal melodies of the American combo.

"American Heartbeat" the second single of the lot from the beginning characterized by almost futuristic keyboards and a chorus featuring vocals reminiscent of the Bee Gees. The album closes with the ballad "Silver Girl", with keyboards once again in the foreground, accompanied by an excellent solo by Peterik in the central part.

"Eye Of The Tiger" is remembered mainly for the great fame achieved by the eponymous single, but the rest of the album is certainly not inferior, offering great classy and very catchy AOR, which must not be missing in the collection of all lovers of the genre and of melodic and refined hard rock.