If you’re someone who misses the days when rock songs had actual hooks, guitar solos mattered, and vocals carried emotion, then let me introduce you to XDB. Their new single, “When the Love Is Gone,” is a reminder that melodic hard rock is still alive, well, and kicking hard from Pittsburgh.
XDB isn’t just another band trying to recycle the past. These guys respect the legacy of melodic metal and hard rock—the TNTs, Teslas, Firehouses, and Scorpions of the world—but they also bring their own fire to the table. This song doesn’t sound dated. It sounds timeless. And that’s what makes it hit the sweet spot for rock fans who’ve been starving for something real.
Let’s start with the vocals. Rob Kane delivers a performance that’s authentic and powerful. He’s not trying to out-sing the world; he’s telling a story—and you believe every word. His voice has that perfect mix of grit and melody. You hear the heartbreak in the verses, the desperation in the pre-chorus, and the full-on emotional explosion in the chorus. The guy pours it out, and that kind of passion is what we need more of in today’s rock scene.
Lyrically, “When the Love Is Gone” tackles familiar ground—love lost, emotional fallout—but it does so with an honesty that cuts deep. It’s not cheesy. It’s real. Lines like “We can’t fly on broken wings” and “We’re just one dream away from something to believe in” sound like something you’d scream along with in the car, windows down, volume maxed. You’ve been there, and this song nails that feeling.
Now, let’s talk about Xander Demos—this guy is the real deal. If you’re into guitar shredding with taste and feel, Xander’s solo on this track is worth the price of admission alone. It’s not about overplaying. It’s about playing the right notes at the right time, and man, he delivers. There’s precision, there’s fire, there’s melody. It’s the kind of solo we used to hear in the golden age of hard rock, and hearing it now is a breath of fresh air.
What also stands out is the production. The song has space to breathe. The mix is clean without feeling sterile. The rhythm section—Brendan Callahan on bass, Emily Stroup on keys, and Guy Cole on drums—anchors the song without getting in the way. The keys in the intro add atmosphere, while the drums push the chorus forward with just the right amount of weight. This isn’t overproduced radio fluff—it’s real musicians playing real music with real emotion.
This is the kind of track Eddie Trunk would be proud to play on his SiriusXM Trunk Nation show. It checks all the boxes: strong vocals, killer hooks, big guitars, and a chorus that’s going to stick in your head long after the last note fades. It’s got all the elements that made us fall in love with melodic hard rock in the first place—and it’s not afraid to go big.
With an album coming soon (Gods of Aliens), XDB is clearly on a mission. They’re not just trying to ride the coattails of a past era—they’re looking to lead a new wave of hard rock that values musicianship, songwriting, and heart. If “When the Love Is Gone” is any indication, they’re more than capable of carrying that torch forward.
Bottom line: If you like your rock melodic, emotional, and unapologetically big, XDB is a band to watch. This track is a home run for anyone who remembers when rock wasn’t just a sound—it was a statement.
Crank it up.
–Edward Ramos
