Shadow King was Lou Gramm’s first foray in a band format since his departure from Foreigner in April 1991. The charismatic vocalist had been working on songs with Bruce Turgon for a third solo album and these developed into a full band possibility. To make this a reality, Gramm and Turgon recruited Viv Campbell (Dio,Whitesnake) on guitar and Kevin Valentine (drums). Freed of the strictures of the AOR Monolith that Foreigner became in the late-eighties, Gramm’s short-lived band really kicked ass with punchy, commercial songs and a hard rock sensibility punctuated by Turgon’s deft keyboard fills and Campbell’s understated guitar. Gramm’s vocals were as distinctive as ever. Essential.