Sartori - We're Rising - CD/Vinyl

Rockshots Records presents "We're Rising", the second full-length album from SARTORI, the project led by guitarist and composer Andy Sartori. Arriving on January 29th, 2027, the record follows the band's 2022 debut "Dragon's Fire" and takes its neoclassical metal roots in a more melodic direction, drawing inspiration from the hard rock and heavy metal sound of the late 1980s.

One of the most significant developments is the arrival of Mark Boals, whose work with Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring of Fire and Royal Hunt has made him a familiar name among fans of melodic and neoclassical metal. His expressive vocal style fits naturally alongside Sartori's guitar playing, bringing a new dimension to songs that place greater emphasis on melody, vocal arrangements and memorable choruses.

The influence of Yngwie Malmsteen's Odyssey era can be heard throughout the album, particularly in its blend of guitar-driven heavy metal and accessible, American-style hard rock. Yet "We're Rising" is not simply an exercise in revisiting that sound. Sartori draws on his classical background and love of traditional metal to shape a collection of songs that moves comfortably between energetic riffs, melodic passages and intricate guitar work, without allowing technical display to overshadow the music itself.

Joining Sartori on guitars and keyboards and Boals on vocals are bassist Andre Di Sao Thiago and drummer Dino Castano. The album was mixed by Kfir Gov at Evil Snail Studios in Austin, Texas, and mastered by Maor Appelbaum, with assistance from Zach Kornhauser, at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in California. The artwork was created by Harley Velasquez.

The ten tracks reflect the wider musical scope of the new material. "Just An Illusion", chosen as the first single, brings together a distinctly European melodic metal feel and an encouraging message about perseverance and believing in one's ambitions. Its combination of strong vocal melodies and guitar-driven arrangements offers an immediate sense of what the album has to offer.

A different side of the band emerges on "Someone To Hold You", a more direct and radio-friendly hard rock song that Sartori originally wrote in the 1990s. Reworked and rearranged for We're Rising, it pairs an uplifting love lyric with a melodic approach conceived to reach beyond the traditional metal audience, including radio and potential film soundtrack opportunities. "Little Aria In G Major Part II", meanwhile, revisits a musical idea introduced on "Dragon's Fire", creating a connection between the two albums.

For Andy Sartori, "We're Rising" represents a natural step forward. The songs are more varied than those on the debut and Boals' melodic approach has helped bring out a different side of his writing. The result is an album that remains faithful to the guitarist's musical identity while giving the compositions more room to breathe and develop.

With its roots in classic heavy metal and its emphasis on melody and musicianship, We're Rising will appeal to listeners who grew up with the genre's late-'80s sound, as well as fans of contemporary neoclassical and melodic metal. Mark Boals' involvement adds further interest for collectors and longtime followers of his work, making the album a relevant release for specialist metal retailers and international distributors.

Tracklist:
1. An Army of One
2. Just an Illusion
3. Little Aria in G Major Part II
4. Renaissance
5. Quest for Glory
6. Someone to Hold You
7. Solitude
8. Savage
9. My Eternal Fight
10. We’re Rising