The band is competent. Of course I miss the old guitar-players Moody and Marsden, but I have to admit Coverdale put together a line-up that played true to the spirit of bluesy hard rock.

"Don't Fade Away" ia a gentle opening. It is a beautiful ballad, Coverdale's voice is superb. It is like a '90s version of "North Winds", the title song of a pre-Snake solo album. The lyrics are meaningful, displaying a mature side of the singer that many people can relate to.

The energy builds on the next tracks. "All in the name..." is charming, the arrangement right to the point. Good classic rock. "Restless Heart" is the first hard rock. Strong! "Too many tears" is a ballad with a Nashville feel. Good to listen to, and it sounds like a progression from songs of the old Snake like "Carry Your Load"(1980).

"Crying" is the heaviest rock of the album. The riffs remind me of Zeppelin. Actually, the Coverdale-Page collaboration of the early nineties shows the direct influence in this song and also in the slow heavy blues of "Take Me Back Again" and the last track, "Woman Trouble Blues". That's allright, Coverdale! Don't forget the roots of the best British rock!

"You're So Fine" is an unremarkable rock 'n' roll, but every Snake album had a song like that and all the fans can dig it. The others are rock ballads. If nothing else, the singer is in fine shape in all of them.

People who expect an album like 1987 or SLIP OF THE TONGUE will be disappointed (Thank god!). But if you are a fan on the old Snake, RESTLESS HEART is a satisfying experience. There are maybe too many romantic numbers and too few of the cocky rock ones. But that would be innevitable, since at this point in David's life it makes more sense for him to sing something like "Don't fade away" than "Sweet Talker"(don't get me wrong, I know the latter is great rock 'n'roll).

If only he could return to record with Moody, Marsden and Murray... But it is unlikely, the singer and the players haven't been exactly in friendly terms recently.



No wonder this album was not released in America!!!   March 9, 2001
7 out of 18 found this review helpful

I was curious to find out why this album was not realized in America after WhiteSnake had such a smash with their previous album. Now I know! This album is flat out terrible. Being a huge David Coverdale fan, it pains me to say that, but it's true. It has none of the bluesy sound from the early Whitesnake albums or the pizazz of their 1987 album. Half hearted perfomances at best. Anyone who gave this album a good review must love David Coverdale so much that they can't be objective any more. Sorry David, it's terrible, and you know it! THAT's why it wasn't released in America! The record company must have known after one listen that it would not go over well here. In comparison, David's latest album, Into the Light, is far better.


Coverdale back to his Solo Style: Not for Hair Metal Boneheads   July 10, 2005
ThrEaD NUGENT (Newport Beach, CA United States)
7 out of 11 found this review helpful

This cd should be credited to David Coverdale....It has more in common w/ his 1977 Northwinds and 1976 White Snake solo records than any Whitesnake records of the 70's or 80's. Restless Heart is a mature, passionate, honest, introspective, beautiful and sincere release by one of rocks greatest talents.

Don't Fade Away could be a Bryan Ferry song.....beautiful harmonies w. female singer....baby making music! All in the Name of Love has same vibe. Restless Heart is a 'hard song' but more like light rock...I have great appreciation for Adrian V. on this record....his style comes through, not the "keep up w/ the Vai's and Viv's" approach I saw in concert in '87....Very tasteful and emotional playing....Too Many Tears is stunningly beautiful.....

If you are a 70's Coverdale fan you'll love this record...If you are a sleezy 80's stripper-chasing-lip pout clown w/ highlighted hair you may want to go and do some research and move on at some point (ie. Coverdale was in a funky soulful Deep Purple, then went soulfully mellow on 2 criminally unknown solo LPs: who knew? you can close you mouth now:).

As a huge Coverdale fan that has all 16 of his studio releases Restless Heart is up there w. the best of them....check this record out..you'll be pleasantly surprised by it's depth and sophistication.




Return of the Soldier of Fortune...   February 5, 2000
Bete Noire (Vancouver, Canada)
5 out of 8 found this review helpful

A great comeback album and another Whitesnake incarnation that revisits Coverdale's melodic and bluesy roots,having more in common with his solo albums from the seventies than with the late eighties hair metal.


Finally the voice is back!   January 5, 1999
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

I've been waiting for this to come! It's like "candy to my ears" to hear Coverdale really sing the way only he can. The first track Don't Fade Away is a majestic melodic rock-blues-ballad that truly shows his powerful, at the same time sensitive, voice. A truly great opening. All In The Name of Love, with great guitarwork from Adrian Vandenberg, has a lot of Hendrix-spirit in it. In all, this album has everything that the other late Whitesnake albums were lacking; strong melodies, superb singing. It really seems honest. Tomas Lange