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NIACIN -
ORGANIK |
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Magna Carta
5th November2005 |
Niacin is the progressive fusion project featuring bassist
extraordinaire Billy Sheehan (Steve Vai / Mr Big / David Lee Roth),
keyboard whiz John Novello and drummer Dennis Chambers. Organik is
the bands 7th album (which includes a couple of live albums) and whilst
fans of Sheehan's rock works may be a little puzzled at first Organik
quickly makes sense.
The project is primarily
led by the rich keyboard work of Novello who has a particular affinity
with the Hammond B-3 that leads this power trio through 13 impressive
tracks that are full of intricate interplay and virtuoso performances.
Yet apparent throughout is the definite sense of direction and overall
groove permeates through the grooves. Albums like this often make
it difficult to pick out highlights but the opening 1-2 punch of
'Barbarian @ The Gate' and 'Nemesis' kick the album off in an exciting
way. Fans of Frank Zappa will enjoy the bands take of 'King Kong'
that smoulders with jazz cool whilst those distinctive Zappa melody
lines ring out. 'Super Kong' sees the Hammond soar beneath which
Sheehan and Chambers provide an irresistible groove. '4's 3' has a
70's Yes air of prog around it and Sheehan gets to strut his stuff on
'Clean Mouse'.
Overall Organik is an
enjoyable ride through progressive fusion waters and showcase 3 top
musicians working off each other with the greatest of expertise, an
enjoyable listening experience.
Rating - 80%
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DUG PINNICK - EMOTIONAL
ANIMAL |
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Magna Carta
Out Now |
Emotional Animal is the latest solo album from Kings X bassist and
vocalist Doug (now Dug) Pinnick. Fans of Dug's work with
his side project Poundhound will feel right at home with Emotional
Animal as its really an extension of what Dug was doing but under his
own name.
This is more or less a
totally solo album from Pinnick save for the drums coming from Joy
Gaskill (son of Kings X's Jerry) and Kelly Watson (mouth trumpet and
vocals on "Freak The Funk Out"). The album has a modern down tuned
metallic edge that has been prevelant on all Kings X releases since
Dogman, and whilst the album does lack some of the sparkle that
guitarist Ty Tabor brings to Kings X its still full of meaty pounding
riffs and strong vocal melodies and harmonies.
Opener Crashing is a good
example of what to expect, riffs, distinctive vocals and a dark slant.
Beautiful has a sound reminiscent of Tool until Pinnicks' vocal come in.
'Change' is home to some great slide work from Pinnick and by now the
album is starting to meld into its own unique character. The
tracks do come across as a little dis-jointed in places, but I suspect
this is intentional - 'Hey Would You Know' being a good example of this.
Emontional Animal is sure
to please the many fans of Pinnick's work, and whilst it may be a little
out there for the new fan (I suggest starting with Kings X to get an
idea of the Pinnick sound in a more accessible package) there is a lot
to offer here, I think fans of stoner bands such as Kyuss and
early Queens Of The Stone Age will also find much to like here.
Rating - 75%
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NIGHTSCAPE - SYMPHONY OF
THE NIGHT |
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Lion Music
Out Now |
Lion Music have picked
another talented band out of their native Scandinavia in Nightscape.
Stylistically the band play energetic Power Metal yet there is a
definite Neo-Classical influence here, especially prevalent in the lead
work of guitarists Joakim Wiklund and Pontus Åkesson.
Nightscape formed in 2001
and after several years of rehearsing, live gigs, hard work and one demo
the band built up a reputation in Sweden that was enough to capture the
interest of Lion Music.
Symphony of The Night
is a classy energetic slice of Power Metal which across its 9 track
running length breathes fresh life into the genre. The bands youthful
vigour releases a sound much more mature than their ages suggest and
showcase a band that have absorbed the positive elements of their
influences and used these to create fresh powerful music within the
Power Metal genre. Opener 'The Haunted Hill' is a prime example of this
and manages to avoid many of the pitfalls often prevalent in the power
metal field and the band have a strong vocalist in Simon Åkesson.
'Across The Sky' possesses a fine chorus which leads into some strong
harmonised guitar work before the solo rip forth, whilst Curse &
Damnation strays a little into Symphony X territory - by no means a bad
thing.
Overall Symphony Of The
Night is a strong debut from a talented band who look set to go far.
Rating - 83%
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SIMONE FIORLETTA -
PARALLEL WORLDS |
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Lion Music
Out Now |
Parallel Worlds is the debut solo album from Simone Fiorletta,
guitarist of Italian Progressive Power Metal sensations Moonlight
Comedy. What we have here is an superbly packaged instrumental
album that showcases Simone's playing in the finest light.
The majority of the tracks are upbeat
with a strong progressive slant with some inroads into Vai waters
with some quirky lines, Fiorletta also makes good use of the tremolo
arm. Simone's tone is well focused and is perfect for the delivery of
the rich melodic lead lines.
Listeners that often find guitar
instrumental album too much in regards to content will find Parallel
Worlds to be a very different experience. 'The 1st Day Of Live'
will be easily accessible to even the most hardened cynic with its
initial light airy melody before the tempo picks up and Fiorletta's
super melodic lead lines flesh out the track. However, Fiorletta
can let rip with the best on 'That's My Truth' which has neo-classical
overtones and some wild playing. 'Alone In The Rain' begins almost as
laid back jazz before quirky Vai-ish lead lines take the track to new
territories. 'You Rest' is home to more delightful melodies and it quite
thought provoking - nice use of acoustic backing here. Album closer 'A
Strange Evolution' is again more mayhem that is focussed and is able to
say a lot to the listener. There is 1 bonus track on the album,
'Lullaby For Laura' from Simone's debut independant release 'The
Beginning' and its a classical guitar led track with some vocals that do
add atmosphere, if not being any more than ooh's and aaah's.
Parallel Worlds is one of those
instrumental albums that will grip you from the start and is full of
strong composition, performance and overall a very enjoyable release.
Rating - 88%
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THUNDER - SIX SHOOTERS
E.P. |
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www.thunderonline.com
Out Now |
Thunder had originally intended to
release another single from their latest superb album 'The
Magnificent Seven', however, something's are not meant to be so to
make it up to the fans the band have released a 6 track e.p. in the
guise of Six Shooters consisting of 4 live tracks and 2 new cuts.
The live tracks consist of very faithful renditions of Fade Into The
Sun, Amy's On The Run, The Gods Of Love and a Stay With Me Baby.
All very good with the band in fine form. Next is a remix of the
studio version of Fade Into The Sun and finally a track previously only
available via download in I'm A Lucky Man.
If you like Thunder you
will like this and is the usual high quality. Fans wishing to
sample the bands music for the first time check out the excellent The
Magnificent Seventh (see our review).
Overall Six Shooters EP is recommended for all.
Rating - 85%
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LOCOMOTIVE BREATH -
CHANGE OF TRACK |
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Lion Music
Out Now |
Locomotive Breath are another exciting edition to Lion Music’s
increasingly more varied roster. Hailing from Sweden the band led by
guitarist Janne Stark and vocalist Mattias Osbäck pump out classy
melodic hard rock in a similar vein to prime Dokken and John Norum. On
their new album “Change Of Track”, Mattias and Janne Stark have
collaborated more in the song writing process, which definitely shows on
the material. Bass guitar on the album is handled by Marcel Jacob
(Talisman / ex Malmsteen) with Ted Wernersson on drums completing the
rhythm section.
In short, the songs on “Change Of Track” are heavy and guitar driven,
but with a stronger melodic feel than ever before with choruses that
stick like epoxy. Just listen to tracks like “Shadow”, “High On
Illusion” or “I’ll Be Fighting”. The album also features two ballads and
an instrumental guitar orgy entitled ‘Gargleblaster’.
Locomotive Breath has come of age on their third album which is a highly
recommended release for anyone interested in the melodic metal genre.
Rating - 88%
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BRAVE NEW WORLD -
MONSTERS |
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Lion Music
Out Now |
Lion Music have plucked a gem out of obscurity for re-release in the
guise of Brave New World’s ‘Monsters’. Originally released in the
mid 1990’s with little push or label support, Monsters was overlooked at
the time of release, this is all set to change now. Brave New World play
Melodic Hard Rock at its best with Monsters showcasing power, passion
and melody combined into an addictive package.
The band’s origins date back to 1994 when vocalist Rick Cartey, then of
band ‘Passion Street’ released their debut album Million Miles Away. The
album sold well saw the band play shows with the likes of Peter
Frampton, Enuff Z’Nuff and Aces High. From here the band have gone
through several line-up changes over the years – with Cartey remaining a
consistent presence – and later changed their name to Brave New World.
‘Monsters’ is the bands debut release and yields a heavier sound than
fans of Passion Street will remember, but the infectious hooks and
melodies remain. The album is home to the precise guitar work of Pat
Heath (also of Vaughn) which combines to excellent effect with the
keyboard work of Cris J Playle. This pair along with the vocals of Pat
Heath forms the focal point of Brave New World which is underpinned by
the tight rhythm section of bassist Stu Brown and Tommy Folstadl on
drums (formerly of Valhalla). Tracks like ‘Knife In My Back’, ‘Arabia’
and ‘Walls Come Down’ epitomise the bands style and finesse - Another
highly recommended release.
Rating - 80%
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PLACE VENDOME - S/T |
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Frontiers
Out Now |
Place Vendome is a new project from
former Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske (of the classic 7 Keys albums),
so its some surprise to find him on Frontiers records fronting what can
only be described as a melodic hard rock album in the vein of the harder
moments of Journey.
Opener "Cross The Line"
gets things off to a rocking start and Kiske's vocals sound much more
comfortable with this sort of music as opposed to the very Bruce
Dickinson moments heard in Helloween. "I Will Be Waiting" displays
a pure California sun upbeat AOR rocker, the chorus is addictive and
Kiske displays a lower timbre to his vocals here. 'Too Late' is home to
a smooth harmonised chorus although the track does seem to lack
something. "I Will Be Gone" is a good mid tempo track with nice
orchestration. The title track is a good uptempo track that is not
a million miles away from the excellent material Airless released
earlier this year on 2nd Round. "Heaven's Door" is a strong ballad
that allows Kiske to let his voice breathe. A couple more tracks
lead us into album closer "Sign Of The Times" which is a good hard
rocker in the vein of early Queensryche and the highlight of the album.
A good way to end the album.
Overall Place Vendome was
a pleasant surprise. This is good quality AOR which is not too
polished and Kiske's vocals sound the best they have in years. The
Helloween split was around 15 years ago and throughout this time Kiske
has been through a variety of styles, Place Vendome might just be his
niche.
Rating - 85%
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CRYSTAL BALL - TIME
WALKER |
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Nuclear Blast
Out Now |
My first introduction to Crystal Ball came with the bands
previous album 'Hellvetia' which if being perfectly honest was a very
average slice of melodic power metal. Time Walker is the
bands latest and fifth release and sadly not a lot seems to have
changed.
The album is competent
enough, their are good solid songs with the expected chanted choruses
yet you have heard this all before yet done better by the likes of UDO
and Accept (but with vocals in the style of Andi Deris). The
guitarists are competent enough too, but the lead breaks don't fill you
with any sense of excitement. "Powerflight" does initially possess
some signs of progress being more up-tempo than the rather mid tempo
plod of many of the other tunes, but unfortunately the chorus lets it
down. The lashings of reverb on Mark Sweeney's vocals don't
really help and make them sound thin when big was probably the aim.
Time Walker will most
likely please fans of the band that have won over from their previous 4
albums, however if melodic power metal is your genre then there is much
better out there.
Rating - 50%
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MARC RIZZO - COLOSSAL
MYOPIA |
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Mascot Records
Out Now |
At 27, Marc Rizzo is already a
household name among modern extreme and nu-metal fans before finishing
"Colossal Myopia", his new solo record. Marc was a founding member of
the nu-metal act "IL Nino" . After leaving IL Nino, he joined Soulfly in
2003 and played guitar on their fourth record "Prophecy" as well as on
their 5th CD, also a 2005 release. Marc Rizzo is one of the new breed of
young guitarists in contemporary bands who has stepped out recently with
solo projects that reveal a phenomenal command of the guitar. "Colossal
Myopia" reveals Rizzo to be a master musician with deep musical roots in
metal, classical and flamenco guitar and is a much needed breath of
fresh air to the instrumental rock genre - something that hasn't been
reflected on the band releases arguably. In all honesty I never
thought I would be reviewing an album from a member of Il Nino or
Soulfly here at Virtuosity One, but credit where credit is due Mascot
and Shrapnel have released a good album here from Marc.
Colossal Myopia
may not be as accessible as our instrumental album of the month from
Milan Polak or Simone Fiorletta (another instrumental guitarist reviewed
this month) but Rizzo proves himself to be a player with a good sense of
odd time signatures and furious chops. The lack of melodies will
mean this won't get as many spins as more melodic players but perhaps it
will go someone to introducing new guitarists to the world of
instrumental music.
Rating - 75%
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