Monthly Archives: September 2010
Freedom Call – Legend of the Shadowking
Freedom Call – Legend of the Shadowking (2010, SPV/Steamhammer Records)
1. “Out of the Ruins” … 4:21
2. “Thunder God” … 3:31
3. “Tears of Babylon” … 3:38
4. “Merlin – Legend of the Past” … 4:17
5. “Resurrection Day” … 3:34
6. “Under the Spell of the Moon” … 5:08
7. “Dark Obsession” … 4:45
8. “The Darkness” … 5:06
9. “Remember!” … 4:21
10. “Ludwig II – Prologue” … 2:19
11. “The Shadowking” … 5:13
12. “Merlin – Requiem” … 2:34
13. “Kingdom of Madness” … 3:59
14. “A Perfect Day” … 3:58
Band:
Chris Bay – Vocals, Guitar
Lars Rettkowitz – Guitar
Samy Saemann – Bass
Dan Zimmermann – Drums
Producer: Chris Bay & Dan Zimmermann
Freedom Call is a German power metal band (with a name like that, I thought they’d be American) that I’m not familiar with at all but somehow I came across their MySpace page and the song “A Perfect Day” and loved it. Since I’m not a big fan of the current form of power metal, I still wasn’t sold yet but I came across this album at FYE for $9.99 and decided to grab it.
I took me a few spins to get into the album, but overall it’s pretty good. Chris Bay has a very good voice that soars but that’s usually a given in power metal outfits. Some of the songs are the typically silly and cheesy power metal fare but other moments like “Under the Spell of the Moon”, “Dark Obsession”, “The Darkness” (all three of those are very moody and very cool) and “A Perfect Day” are absolutely excellent. Not surprisingly, the band reminds me of Helloween and Edguy. If I had ever given more than a very brief listen to Gamma Ray, I’m sure I could say they sound like them too since Dan Zimmermann is in that band as well!
I’m not even a major power metal fan but if you’re into the current crop of European power metal, this album is a no brainer. There’s a bit of filler here, but it’s worth wading through for the really good stuff.
Highlights: “Thunder God”, “Tears of Babylon”, “Under the Spell of the Moon”, “Dark Obsession”, “The Darkness”, “A Perfect Day”
www.freedom-call.net
www.facebook.com/pages/Freedom-Call/15424060865
www.myspace.com/newfreedomcall
Whitesnake – Live: In the Shadow of the Blues
Whitesnake – Live: In the Shadow of the Blues (2008, Icarus Music – Argentina Import)
Original Release: 2006, SPV Records/Steamhammer Records
Disc One
1. “Bad Boys” … 6:22
2. “Slide It In” … 5:11
3. “Slow An’ Easy” … 6:54
4. “Love Ain’t No Stranger” … 4:31
5. “Judgement Day” … 5:34
6. “Is This Love” … 4:58
7. “Blues for Mylene ’06″ … 3:31
8. “Snake Dance ’06″ … 2:03
9. “Crying in the Rain” … 5:46
10. “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City” … 8:44
11. “Fool for Your Loving” … 4:51
12. “Here I Go Again” … 5:53
13. “Still of the Night” … 8:38
Disc Two
1. “Burn – Stormbringer” … 8:38
2. “Give Me All Your Love” … 4:27
3. “Walking in the Shadow of the Blues” … 5:10
4. “The Deeper the Love” … 4:31
5. “Ready an’ Willing” … 5:41
6. “Don’t Break My Heart Again” … 6:08
7. “Take Me with You” … 7:50
8. “Ready to Rock” … 4:19
9. “If You Want Me” … 4:08
10. “All I Want Is You” … 4:12
11. “Dog” … 3:27
Band:
David Coverdale – Vocals
Doug Aldrich – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Reb Beach – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Uriah Duffy – Bass, Backing Vocals
Tommy Aldridge – Drums
Timothy Drury – Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Producer: David Coverdale, Dough Aldrich, Michael McIntyre
Having heard this album shortly after its release, I’ve wanted this album just as long but it seems like this was one of those albums that must’ve had a small pressing because it quickly shot up in price around the internet. Thankfully it was reissued (though I didn’t realize I was buying a reissue at the time) so the price was about $7 or $8 when I finally bought it online.
Though I’ve claimed to be a Whitesnake fan for years, this album along with Good to Be Bad really cemented my status as a fan and quickly catapulted Whitesnake near the top of my favorites list. Since Coverdale reformed the band in 2002, he’s kept amazingly talented musicians in the band and this particular line-up is probably one of the most impressive and powerful versions of the band ever as evidenced on this album. I can even vouch for them in concert because I was lucky enough to see them on the Good to Be Bad Tour (though the awesome Tommy Aldridge was no longer on drums). They have such a powerful, meaty, energetic sound. The Coverdale/Aldrich pairing has really produced some great things and I think this band has rejuvenated David Coverdale.
The only bad thing I can say about a performance here is sometimes Coverdale is straining, not often, but it happens. Which is odd because I don’t remember him sounding like this at all in concert, he sounded phenomenal then. Still, even when not 100% on his game, Coverdale is a better singer than most.
I’m not sure exactly when or where this album was recorded. They album gives credits to the 2005 and 2006 touring production team so I’m guessing these songs were culled from various performances though you can’t tell. If this was meant to give the illusion of being one show (or if it was truly was), the sequencing is weird. Disc One plays like an entire show from beginning to end while Disc Two’s live tracks seem kind of random and surely they wouldn’t end a show with “Take Me With You”! I guess they wanted to fit all the major Whitesnake songs onto the first disc.
Now, as if you can’t guess by now, the live portion of this album is fantastic but here’s the real reason I bought this album: for the four brand new studio songs that showed off this powerful new line-up. “Ready to Rock”, “If You Want Me” and “Dog” are welcome entries into the Whitesnake catalog. Much like the entire Good to Be Bad album, they are an updated take on the old Whitesnake song. Amazing songs. The only one that falls kinda short is “All I Want Is You” which is a ballad that tries to replicate “Is This Love”.
Great live album with some great new studio songs… Definitely an essential Whitesnake album!
Highlights: “Slide It In”, “Slow & Easy”, “Love Ain’t No Stranger”, “Blues for Mylene ’06″, “Crying in the Rain”, “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City”, “Still of the Night”, “Walking in the Shadow of the Blues”, “Ready to Rock”, “If You Want Me”, “Dog”
www.whitesnake.com
www.facebook.com/Whitesnake.official
www.myspace.com/whitesnake
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Voices of Extreme – Break the Silence
Voices of Extreme – Break the Silence (2010, self-released)
1. “Damned” … 3:35
2. “Tell Me What It Takes” … 3:24
3. “Apocalypse” … 3:22
4. “Break the Silence” … 3:33
5. “Numb” … 3:32
6. “Did It Again” … 2:54
7. “Hollow” … 3:28
8. “Made of Stone” … 4:10
9. “Blown Away” …. 3:27
10. “Sorry” … 3:28
Band:
Don Chaffin – Vocals
Rob Katrikh – Guitar
Bob Brennan – Bass
John Macaluso – Drums
Mike Khalilov – Keyboards
Break the Silence is the 2nd album from Voices of Extreme. I haven’t had a chance to hear that first release but this particular album is a blend of alternative and melodic hard rock. There are some names of interest associated with this band. First and foremost, Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain co-manages the group. In addition to that, drummer John Macaluso as played in TNT, Riot and with Yngwie Malmsteen while guitarist Rob Katrikh was a member of Doro Pesch’s band. So there’s definitely some old school heavy metal blood running through this band even if their music does not necessarily reflect that.
Since their debut in 2005, the band has scored some good gigs opening for Alice In Chains, Disturbed and Godsmack. And really, Voices of Extreme sound like they would fit in well with bands of that ilk but there’s certainly enough hook and melody here for the hard rock fans that may not necessarily gravitate towards alternative rock/metal groups.
Most of these songs sound radio ready and there’s enough of a chance of pace and sound throughout the album so that I didn’t get bored. There’s really a bit of something for everyone: alternative/post-grunge rock, melodic rock, flat out heavy metal, fast numbers, mid-tempo numbers. V.O.X. doesn’t try to confine themselves to one genre of rock and that’s pretty cool and vocalist Don Chaffin has a great voice that can go along with any spin the songs offer.
The album really caught me off guard with just how catchy it is. “Damned” is a great choice to start off the album, it’s one of the best songs and immediately was stuck in my head after the first listen. I can’t decide which song is my absolute favorite — “Damned” or “Made of Stone”!
V.O.X. has a lot to offer. The group seems like a melting pot of various rock/metal styles and I think this album should please most rock ‘n’ roll fans.
Highlights: “Damned”, “Tell Me What It Takes”, “Break the Silence”, “Numb”, “Made of Stone”
http://www.voicesofextreme.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/VOX-Voices-of-eXtreme/158508458097
http://www.myspace.com/VoicesOfExtreme
WHITESNAKE – Starkers In Tokyo
Whitesnake – Starkers In Tokyo (1997, EMI Records – UK Import)
1. “Sailing Ships” … 4:37
2. “Too Many Tears” … 4:13
3. “The Deeper The Love” … 4:09
4. “Love Ain’t No Stranger” … 3:15
5. “Can’t Go On” … 3:50
6. “Give Me All Your Love” … 3:21
7. “Don’t Fade Away” … 4:26
8. “Is This Love” … 3:09
9. “Here I Go Again” … 4:46
10. “Soldier of Fortune” … 4:22
Band:
David Coverdale – Vocals
Adrian Vandenberg – Guitar
Producer: David Coverdale
Starkers In Tokyo is a really cool live acoustic album that was recorded on July 5th, 1997 in Tokyo, Japan at an EMI Japan studio. It’s a very intimate setting with a small, restrained crowd (Coverdale cracks a few jokes about the reserved crowd and reveals himself to have a weird sense of humor).
This special show was put on at the request of EMI Japan in an attempt to help promote the Restless Heart album so it’s no surprise that three songs from the set list are from that album. Also, there are two songs from Slip of the Tongue. All five of those songs were written by Coverdale & Vandenberg. I’m surprised David didn’t go for some earlier Whitesnake material for this acoustic setting but I’m sure the Vandenberg factor played a role in that. Apparently, David hadn’t totally disowned the group’s late ’80s work just yet and was content to fill this album with ballads.
The album is really good, I’ve given this one multiple spins since winning it. It’s no secret that Coverdale is one of my favorite rock vocalists of all-time and this album is a great example of why. If it was anyone else singing these songs, it wouldn’t be half as good and that’s not a knock on the songs, it’s praise for Coverdale. And while I think Slip of the Tongue is just maybe the weakest Whitesnake album, “Sailing Ships” and “The Deeper The Love” come off really good in an acoustic setting. In fact, every song here does except “Here I Go Again”, which just doesn’t sound right without the bombastic production behind it.
It’s not the set list I would have chosen but this is another great entry into the Whitesnake discography.
Highlights: “Sailing Ships”, “Too Many Tears”, “The Deeper The Love”, “Love Ain’t No Stranger”, “Can’t Go On”, “Don’t Fade Away”
JUDAS PRIEST – Rocka Rolla
Judas Priest – Rocka Rolla (2000, Koch Records)
Original Release: 1974, Gull Records
1. “One for the Road” … 4:35
2. “Rocka Rolla” … 3:03
3. “Winter”/”Deep Freeze”/”Winter Retreat”/”Cheater” … 9:30
4. “Never Satisfied” … 4:50
5. “Run of the Mill” (8:34)
6. “Dying to Meet You” (6:19)
7. “Caviar and Meths” (2:03)
BONUS TRACK
8. “Diamonds and Rust” (3:14)
Band:
Rob Halford – Vocals, Harmonica
K.K. Downing – Guitar
Glenn Tipton – Guitar, Synthesizers, Backing Vocals
Ian Hill – Bass
John Hinch – Drums
Producer: Rodger Bain
Very interesting debut album from Judas Priest that is predominantly a blues-based “heavy rock” release (I’ve grown to love that term when talking about ’70s hard rock/metal bands). I’ve read a lot of reviews stating this album is nothing special but I have to disagree. Is it essential Priest? No, I don’t think so but it is still enjoyable ’70s hard rock that at times come across like early Black Sabbath (Rodger Bain produced the first three Sabbath albums after all). Admittedly, it was a bit of a shock listening to this album for the first time because it’s just not what you expect from Priest, it’s just not as fast or heavy as their later stuff, but it has grown on me.
There’s more than enough here to make this worth a listen. “Rocka Rolla” is a great, fun, loose hard rock track, something I can’t imagine Judas Priest doing ever again. “Run of the Mill” is an epic progressive song, just an amazing performance by Rob, and “Dying to Meet You” is an enjoyable doomy track before picking up at the end.
“Rocka Rolla”, “Winter”, “Never Satisfied” and “Caviar and Meths” were all written or co-written by original singer At Atkins before he left the group. This version of “Caviar and Meths” is very much shortened from the original version the band had worked on.
My version of this album features the alternate cover that debuted on the mid-80s pressings of this album. The story goes that Coca-Cola and Priest were none too please with the original bottle cap cover and so reissues of this album got the much more heavy metal-looking cover above. I’ve always liked the original cover, even if it feels out of place for a band such as Judas Priest, and would have preferred to have found that version. Oh well. Priest apparently isn’t happy with the production either, that which I can agree with. Some of the songs have a bit of a hiss to them but it’s not too distracting.
Also, on original pressings of this album, I believe “Winter”, “Deep Freeze”, “Winter Retreat” and “Cheater” all had their own tracks. Not sure why they were thrown together on the same track for this edition. As a bonus track for this reissue, the band’s original recording of Joan Baez’s “Diamonds and Rust” (taken from the Sad Wings of Destiny sessions) included.
For people wanting a Priest recommendation, I wouldn’t name this album first but it’s definitely worth picking up if you’re a hardcore Priest fan and I probably like much more than most people do. It’s different but you can still hear the sound that would fully develop on later albums.
Highlights: “Rocka Rolla”, “Winter”/”Deep Freeze”/”Winter Retreat”/”Cheater”, “Never Satisfied”, “Run of the Mill”, “Diamonds and Rust”
www.judaspriest.com
www.myspace.com/judaspriest
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MEGADETH – Rust In Peace Live
Megadeth – Rust In Peace Live (2010, Shout! Factory)
1. “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” … 7:03
2. “Hangar 18″ … 5:06
3. “Take No Prisoners” … 3:25
4. “Five Magics” … 6:01
5. “Poison Was The Cure” … 3:36
6. “Lucretia” … 3:59
7. “Tornado of Souls” … 5:29
8. “Dawn Patrol” … 1:53
9. “Rust In Peace… Polaris” … 6:10
10. “Holy Wars – Reprise” … 4:16
11. “Skin O’ My Teeth” … 3:20
12. “In My Darkest Hour” … 6:12
13. “She-Wolf” … 3:37
14. “Trust” … 5:10
15. “Symphony of Destruction” … 4:01
16. “Peace Sells” … 4:47
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Vocals, Guitar
Chris Broderick – Guitar
David Ellefson – Bass
Shawn Drover – Drums
Producer: Bart Peters
Pretty odd that Shout! Factory would release this as I thought Megadeth still had a deal in place with Roadrunner Records, owing them one more album, but maybe that only applies to studio albums? Anyway, this show was recorded on March 31, 2010 at the historic Hollywood Palladium and is notable for being the first recording to feature David Ellefson back on bass after an 8 year absence from the band.
My feelings are mixed on Megadeth’s past live releases. I was totally unimpressed initially by 2001′s Rude Awakening. Looking back, it was an okay live album but it’s inferior compared to 2007′s That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires. Due to me liking That One Night so much, I wanted to pick this album up. I’m actually surprised very little marketing has been done for it, I only knew it existed because I was browsing through Amazon.com a few weeks ago and it popped up as a recommendation.
As you can tell by the title of the album, the band plays the entire Rust In Peace album. This was being done on the entire tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album. The “encore” is a number of Megadeth’s biggest hits and crowd favorites and every song on this album sounds fantastic. Megadeth has never had a problem performing in a live setting, Dave always has the cream of the crop in his band. It’s absolutely amazing the number of extremely talented co-guitarists he’s had over the years.
Though I’ve always thought Rust In Peace was overrated (very good, but still overrated), fans who are absolutely in love with that album should be absolutely in love with this live disc. The packaging is kinda low-budget though. You’d think there’d be some liner notes from Dave about the original album, or this tour or this one particular show, but nope, just some album credits and photos from this concert. Maybe such extra content is being saved for a special edition of Rust In Peace.
Still, Megadeth fans should be just as pleased with this release as the crowd was that night!
Highlights: “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”, “Hangar 18″, “Take No Prisoners”, “Rust In Peace… Polaris”, “In My Darkest Hour”, “Trust”, “Symphony of Destruction”, “Peace Sells”
www.megadeth.com
www.myspace.com/megadeth
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MAMA KIN – In The City
Mama Kin – In The City (2010, Jamsync Music/Leon Music)
1. “Badge And A Gun” … 3:40
2. “In The City” … 3:10
3. “You Belong To Me” … 4:06
4. “Mrs. Operator” … 3:12
5. “Higher & Higher” … 4:53
6. “Too Much” … 3:34
7. “Fortune & Fame” … 3:00
8. “Superman” … 4:32
9. “You” … 3:20
10. “Champagne, Chicks & Rock N’ Roll” … 2:28
Band:
Ward – Vocals, Guitar
Elias – Guitar
Jon – Bass
Edwin – Drums
Mama Kin is yet another hard rock band from Sweden that is fixated on the 1980s Sunset Strip sound. Coming from me, this isn’t a complain though. I mean, how can you not give a band that calls upon KISS, Def Leppard and Ratt as influences a chance? I’ll assume Aerosmith is an influence too.
Originally released in 2009 in Sweden, In The City is hooky hard rock with a classic rock/glam appeal and modern production. A good point of comparison I think is Hinder but Mama Kin doesn’t have that post-grunge/alternative sound to them that some Hinder sometimes employs. Ward’s vocals even sound similar to the singer from Hinder but I also hear bits of Paul Stanley.
The production is too modern for Mama Kind to be considered another ’80s retro band, they’ve found a very pleasant middle ground in-between yesterday and today. Basically, they’re a band that wouldn’t sound out of place getting mainstream airplay but would still appeal to fans of ’80s hard rock. The band gets right to the point with their songs and offers little time to breath with most of these songs around the three-minute mark.
The whole album is full of sing-along choruses that should come off great in a live setting. I actually had the opportunity to see this band play live here in town recently (along with Asphalt Valentine and Modern Superstar on the “Summer of Sin” tour) but due to commitments at my new job I wasn’t able to go. Bummer.
Mama Kin is a band to keep an eye on and have a great fun catchy hard rock sound that is worth checking out.
Highlights: “Badge And A Gun”, “Too Much”, “Higher & Higher”, “Superman”, “Champagne, Chicks & Rock ‘N’ Roll”
RAINBOW – Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow
Rainbow – Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (1987, PolyGram Records/Polydor Records)
Original Release: 1975, PolyGram Records
1.”Man on the Silver Mountain” … 4:37
2.”Self Portrait” … 3:12
3.”Black Sheep of the Family” … 3:19
4.”Catch the Rainbow” … 6:29
5.”Snake Charmer” … 4:30
6.”The Temple of the King” … 4:43
7.”If You Don’t Like Rock ‘n’ Roll” … 2:35
8.”Sixteenth Century Greensleeves” … 3:29
9.”Still I’m Sad” … 3:52
Band:
Ronnie James Dio – Vocals
Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
Craig Gruber – Bass
Gary Driscoll – Drums
Mickey Lee Soule – Piano, Mellotron, Clavinet, Organ
Producer: Martin Birch
I’m so sorry I ever took so long to get into Rainbow. I really like all eras of the band but obviously the Dio years were the best and the debut is also the best of the band’s catalog. I can’t stop listening to this CD, there is NO filler here at all. The only song that comes close to being filler is the cover of Quatermass’ “Black Sheep of the Family”, which is funny because that song is the one reason Rainbow existed — Deep Purple refused to cover it at Ritchie Blackmore’s request so he went out on his own to do it and the recording session morphed into a full album and a new group (Blackmore + Elf = Purple Elf?).
Yes, there are a number of epic songs from the next two studio albums but this whole album just really pulls me in. The album has such a classic rock ‘n’ roll sound coupled with some really cool melancholy tunes (“Catch the Rainbow”, “The Temple of the King”) and a bit of a loose, bluesy feel at times (“Snake Charmer”, “If You Don’t Like Rock ‘n’ Roll”) all while playing into Blackmore & Dio’s sword & sorcery obsessions and setting the blueprint for the next generation of rock bands.
“Man on the Silver Mountain” and the cover of The Yardbirds’ “Still I’m Sad” are the hardest rocking songs of the bunch but the previously mentioned melancholy laid back tunes really get to me and have gotten the most play from me thus far. The album really is almost perfect, such a great balance between ballads, “heavy rock” and good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll swagger.
Really what else can be said that hasn’t been said since 1975? Easily one of the best rock albums of all-time! Everyone should own this!
Highlights: “Man on the Silver Mountain”, “Catch The Rainbow”, “Snake Charmer”, “The Temple of the King”, “Still I’m Sad”
BLACK SABBATH – Death Called ’89
Black Sabbath – Death Called ’89 (CDR bootleg)
Recorded: June 9, 1989 at the Manchester Apollo in Manchester, England
1. “Headless Cross” … 6:39
2. “Neon Knights” … 5:35
3. “Children Of The Sea” … 6:01
4. “Die Young” … 6:29
5. “Iron Man” … 5:08
6. “When Death Calls” … 7:07
7. “War Pigs” … 7:09
8. “Heaven And Hell/Paranoid/Heaven And Hell” … 14:27
9. “Cloak And Dagger” … 4:36
Band:
Tony Martin – Vocals
Tony Iommi – Guitar
Neil Murray – Bass
Cozy Powell – Drums
Geoff Nicholls – Keyboards
A fantastic Black Sabbath live bootleg! I have such a fondness for Tony Martin’s run and a bootleg like this only helps to solidify the case that his time in Sabbath is extremely underrated. Taken straight from the soundboard, the quality is very good for a bootleg and Tony is in great vocal form and the rest of the band sounds like the accomplished musicians that they are. This was a great line-up and in 1989 Sabbath was on a creative roll having just released the excellent Headless Cross.
Of course, being that Sabbath has such a rich and popular history with Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio, Tony has to cover their material throughout most of the show. He does very well with the Dio material as there are similarities in their voices (even Dio himself has said that Tony Martin was ripping off his vocal style) but he falters when it comes to “Iron Man”, “War Pigs” and “Paranoid”. It’s not really his fault though. He’s too good of a singer to do those songs justice, if that makes sense. He sounds silly doing them just as Ronnie James or Ian Gillan always did. It just doesn’t work.
Other than that, really enjoyable live show and the crowd sounds fired up. Martin really shines on his songs ”Headless Cross” and “When Death Calls”. Unfortunately those are the only songs of his own he gets to sing!
The final song on the album, “Cloak & Dagger”, is a studio track that was the B-side for the “Headless Cross” single.
This is a bootleg well worth seeking out and can easily be found online.
Highlights: “Headless Cross”, “Neon Knights”, “Die Young”, “When Death Calls”, “Heaven And Hell/Paranoid/Heaven And Hell”
AVANTASIA – The Wicked Symphony & Angel of Babylon: Deluxe Edition
Avantasia – The Wicked Symphony & Angel of Babylon: Double Album Deluxe Edition [Import] (2010, Nuclear Blast Records)
Disc 1: The Wicked Symphony
1. “The Wicked Symphony” … 9:28
2. “Wastelands” … 4:44
3. “Scales of Justice” … 5:04
4. “Dying for an Angel” … 4:32
5. “Blizzard On a Broken Mirror” … 6:07
6. “Runaway Train” … 8:42
7. “Crestfallen” … 4:02
8. “Forever is a Long Time” … 5:05
9. “Black Wings” … 4:37
10. “States of Matter” … 3:57
11. “The Edge” … 4:12
Highlights: “The Wicked Symphony”, “Scales of Justice”, “Dying for an Angel”, “Blizzard On A Broken Mirror”, “Runaway Train”, “Crestfallen”
Disc 2: Angel of Babylon
1. “Stargazers” … 9:33
2. “Angel of Babylon” … 5:29
3. “Your Love is Evil” … 3:53
4. “Death is Just a Feeling” … 5:21
5. “Rat Race” … 4:07
6. “Down in the Dark” … 4:23
7. “Blowing Out the Flame” … 4:51
8. “Symphony of Life” … 4:30
9. “Alone I Remember” … 4:48
10. “Promised Land” … 4:47
11. “Journey to Arcadia” … 7:12
Highlights: “Stargazers”, “Death Is Just A Feeling”, “Rat Race”, “Blowing Out The Flame”, “Symphony Of Life”, “Alone I Remember”, “Promised Land”
Musicians:
Tobias Sammet – Lead Vocals, Bass
Russell Allen, Jorn Lande, Michael Kiske, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Klaus Meine, Andre Matos, Bob Catley, Ralf Zdiarstek, Jon Oliva, Cloudy Yang, Oliver Hartmann – Guest Vocals
Sascha Paeth, Bruce Kulick, Oliver Hartmann, Henjo Richter – Guitar
Miro Rodenberg – Keyboards, Orchestration
Sascha Paeth, Jens Johansson – Keyboards
Simon Oberrender – Organ
Felix Bohnke, Alex Holzwarth, Eric Singer – Drums
Producer: Sascha Paeth & Tobias Sammet
An epic collection featuring two epic albums! This deluxe edition collects both of Avantasia’s 2010 releases plus features a fairly lengthy booklet full of pictures and notes on the making of the albums. This time, instead of pure laziness, I actually had a good reason for not reviewing this set when I initially planned… it was just too much to absorb at once!
For some strange reason, unlike The Wicked Symphony, Angel of Babylon has not been released as a single disc in the United States although it is available as an import. I bought this collection on Amazon shortly after the street date because it turned out it was cheaper than having to order both albums separately because Angel of Babylon‘s import price was ridiculous at the time. This collection itself is actually an import (some of the text of my particular copy’s cellophane wrap was in Spanish) and it was retailing for $60-70 at most online shops when I first looked. YIKES!!! There are some very good deals to be found for it in Amazon’s Marketplace though, that’s how I got my copy and only paid$27 for it.
The very first thing I think of when I think of Avantasia are the amazing vocals that are always involved. Of course there’s Tobias Sammet, who is one of my favorite metal vocalists but Jorn Lande, Michael Kiske and Russell Allen shine on both albums just as they did on The Scarecrow. Jorn is featured on so many of these songs he might as well be considered a full-time member of Avantasia alongside Tobias. A Sammet/Lande album, anyone? And that’s not all! Klaus Meine, Tim “Ripper” Owens and Jon Oliva make appearances as well.
To this day I still have not heard the first two Avantasia albums. Some have complained that Tobias has taken the music in a slightly different direction, which is his prerogative since Avantasia is a side-project and a labor of love after all. Actually… Now that I think about it, if anything, I think Avantasia has become a bigger focus for Tobias than Edguy has been lately. Even so, the line has been blurred and both groups are becoming a bit interchangeable in sound. Not that I’m complaining, I like the direction both bands are headed in: great melodies, huge fantastic vocals, big drums, a bit of pop music, some ’80s hard rock, catchy choruses. Not many can do melodic power metal better than this.
I leaned towards The Wicked Symphony when I first bought this collection but after giving both albums many spins, I think I like Angel of Babylon better. There’s really no filler on that album at all. Either way, both are better than The Scarecrow (which I liked) and are two of 2010′s better albums!
