High Roller Records, reissue 2023, red/ black splatter vinyl, ltd 100, insert, Audio mastered and restored by Patrick W. Engel in September 2021, »Even The Score« (originally released on US label Rampage Records in 1988) was the second and last official solo album by legendary vocalist Rhett Forrester, following his debut »Gone With The Wind«. Forrester was shot and killed in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 22nd 1994 at the age of 37. When Rhett left New York’s Riot after their 1983 »Born In America« album, it didn’t take long for him to start work on his first solo album. »Gone With The Wind« was originally released in 1984 and recorded by Gary Bordonaro on bass and Carl Canedy on drums, both of The Rods fame, plus Paul Kayen on guitar. It took Rhett Forrester four more years to come up with the follow-up to »Gone With The Wind«. As before, guitarist Paul Kayen was once again handling the guitar duties, he was helped by a certain Chris Pati (bass, keyboards, backing vocals and drum programming). The partnership of Kayen and Forrester blossomed over the years, and the proof of that was »Even The Score«. The duo penned nine of the ten tracks (one being a cover version of the old Bad Company song “Ready For Love”). »Even The Score« was recorded in a variety of New York studios. Of raunchy hard rock numbers like the fiery “Burning Heart”, the more melodic and catchy “Assume The Position” or the sharp rocker “You Will Be Mine”, Rhett Forrster commented in 1988: “I’m a rhythm ’n’ blues rock singer. My forte is singing rock ‘n’ roll and that’s what this record is. Good, hard, melodic rock with hooks and melody. The record flows through a gamut of emotions. Paul Kayen and I put some great rock tunes together, as well as a ballad called ‘See You In My Dreams’ that I am really proud of.” The second solo album by the legendary ex-Riot singer Rhett Forrester, was much better received than the debut. The English metal bible Kerrang! awarded »Even The Score« four out of five K’s. Dave Reynolds beamed in his review: “Finally the former Riot frontman begins a new assault on a solo career. This time, his second attempt, Rhettro is really going’ for it and has come up with a really happenin’ album. »Even The Score« is a monumental metal attempt to thrust his talent back into the limelight. With a record of this quality, let’s hope that Forrester, one of heavy metal’s true characters, can get the massive recognition he’s always found so hard to obtain.” Unfortunately, the English journalist’s wish was not to be fulfilled. Rhett Forrester did continue to record but there was no official third album to come out as a result before his untimely death in 1994.
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