Shades of Hell.’Expect the unexpected’ says Dutch multi-instrumentalist Ron Coolen of his latest collaboration with American vocalist Keith St John. It’s an interesting little baited hook, because frankly, all I ever expect when Keith St John rolls into town is high quality, old school classic rock. That’s bred into the very DNA of the man’s voice, so how could Here To Stay, the pair’s new offering, be any different?

In some ways, this is the unexpected, as the shredding skills of names like Christopher Amott, Gus G, Timo Somers and Per Nilsson all add significant heft to the tunes to which they add their talents. Standout cut Firebird – one of the two tracks to feature Gus G – is high grade pounding melodic metal, but St John moulds the song to his will within seconds, offering a world class performance that once again leaves you wondering why he isn’t universally recognised as one of American hard rock’s leading vocal lights…

This pattern repeats itself across the album to greater and lesser degrees, the only real misstep being a revisit of the track Coolen did with George Lynch a few years back; Sin City 23 now sounds a bit clunky and oafish, especially lyrically, when set against the more dynamic material that makes up the rest of the album, but there’s always the skip button, and you really won’t mind using it when elsewhere there’s superb heavy rock like You’re Just A Bad Dream (which features Christopher Amott) and the Per Nilsson-fuelled belter 90 Shades of Hell.

Fans of St John’s more normal style will lap up the superb Mr Jones – with great guitar work from Timo Somers – which sounds like The Cult after a Cry of Love listening binge, but really, that one track aside, there’s nothing you won’t find appealing here if you’re familiar with the names involved. Well worth a listen…

Here To Stay Is Out Now.