Stephen I was blown away by Sunstorm's majestic debut in 2006 and to be honest, I was pessimistic at first when they announced to release a follow-up album, "House of Dreams", because I think it will be a bland and repetitive formula without any enhanced arrangement, but when I first spin the disc, I was completely surprised to find this in a stronger and prettier shape than before. Joe Lynn Turner maintained the debut's formation except Gunter Werno came in to replace the former keyboardist, Jochen Weyer. Jim Peterik also still contributed some of his self-written songs to the band and Dennis Ward still handled the bass instrument and production department.

From the first four tracks, you'll find yourself travelling back in time to the 80s era, and those tracks alone should be enough reason to buy this album. The uptempo melodic rock of "Divided" contained swelling hooks and a big start for Sunstorm. Continued with keys-driven "Don't Give Up", the wonderful chorus will leave you humming for weeks. The mighty power ballad of "The Spirit Inside" loaded with magnificent chorus, and the climax of the album is the catchy "I Found Love" with a huge radio-hit potential arrangement, and check out the magnificent guitar solo, what a song!

The passionate ballad of "Say You Will" is too soft and sappy, and somehow reminds me of a lost George Benson track, but this one definitely can be a great wedding song. I raise my hats to the cool and breezy "Forever Now" and the title track. Led by a thick keyboard sound, this song displayed Turner's capability of wandering at the low range register before flying high with the soaring chorus. Sunstorm included two cover songs, "Save A Place In Your Heart" which can be found in Only Child's debut and "Walk On" from Jimmy Barnes' "Freight Train Heart", and even though those tracks are quite okay, I guess it's unnecessary.

If you love the debut, this is an even better release! The songs compositions are stronger, not repetitive but the wheels are rolling on the same track, the whole band is tight, and Turner’s voice is still magical. If you like melodic hard rock, with a touch on heavy metal border, and also AOR, "House of Dreams" is unbelievably great.

ovidiu This second SUNSTORM album is definitelly one of the highlights in melodic metal AOR in 2009!It's 100 % brilliant and it's following the sensational previous album,debut album that was also well received by all the lovers of this music style!Mr JOE LYNN TURNER seems to be like a fish in the water in this AOR style!His voice really fits perfectly to this type of music and he's able to combine very intelligent the sensitive and emotional slow songs,ballads-here Turner really shines-with midtepmo songs,with a strong melody and punchy choruses!This second SUNSTORM album -HOUSE OF DREAM-is excellent from the first to the last one-and it's so rare to have nowadays an album of this caliber-brilliantly composed and performed,without any single weak song!Such inspired melodies and refrains and a perfect production-DENNIS WARD brand-a 100 %winning formula for FRONTIERS RECORDS-the best European label in melodic metal!This type of album proves that melodic rock still has many beautiful days ahead and old rockers like JL TURNER still have many aces in their pockets!The voice of RAINBOW,MALMSTEEN and DEEP PURPLE still sounds superbe and he has a brilliant vocal technique as well,able to express himself in a very attractive way in 2009 after so many years in service of metal or hard rock!!The slow songs are really killer-Turner's voice is wonderful and transmits so many emotions and feelings trough sensitive music!Not only in my humble opinion-but after many specialized websites and magazines-one of the best melodic albums in 2009!!!5 STARS for a great AOR album!A masterpiece of the genre!

Stephen Sunstorm is a big collaboration between the legendary Joe Lynn Turner, Jim Peterik, and Dennis Ward where most of the materials here were shelved out from Turner's basement when some of them didn't make it to his solo album, "Rescue You" in 1986. Half of the songs were written by Peterik, a well respected songwriter since his days in Survivor.

Because of the songs mostly came from the 80s, the concept of the album was a vintage AOR with a modernized polished sound. Turner's moderately heavy voice with a bluesy melodic timbre seemed works very well with Peterik's songs. Some essential high tempo melodic rock tracks here that will blow your mind are "Keep Tonight", "Fame and Fortune", and "Fist Full of Heat" while if you prefer the slower tunes, they presented you "Strength Over Time", "Making Up For Lost Time", and "Arms of Love". This is one precious gem of 2006 that keeps getting better and better after repeated listens.