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Bob
Katsionis started playing keyboards at the age
of ten and four years later in 1992 he bought
his first guitar. Lion Music in Finland released
Bob's first solo CD Turn Of My Century, since
then he has been involved in some session recordings
for Starqueen, Battleroar, Magic Kingdom, as well
as touring with Firewind on their Japanese and
European tour as well as being a member of Nightfall.
Imaginary
Force showcases Katsionis' skills on both
keyboard and guitar. The performances are very
strong and the production stellar throughout.
Stylistically this is firmly in the prog metal
genre and fans of recent solo albums by fellow
keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Inertia and Black
Utopia) as well as the instrumental offerings
of acts such as Dream Thearer and Sun Caged will
find much to enjoy here. The guitar work is full
of 7 string riffage that creates a good backdrop
over which Katsioni's fires off keyboard and lead
guitar runs with aplomb.
Imaginary Force is a very solid
slice of instrumental prowess.
Rating - 84% |
Lana
Lane - Return To Japan (Frontiers Records - Out
Now) |
 |
Lana Lane is one of those bands
that I have heard an awful lot about, but never
actually heard anything by. Led by the marriage
of female vocalist Lana Lane and keyboardist Erik
Norlander. The band specialise in epic sounding
metal with somewhat of an older flavour. This
double live CD and DVD release sees very average
sound quality (and picture quality in the case
of the DVD) - though no doubt long term fans of
the band will be lapping this up.
The musicianship is good, Norlander certainly
knows how to write complex yet catchy tunes and
the guitar work of Peer Verschuren, Mark McRite
and Neil Citron is well performed. Star of the
show is the bass stick work of Don Schiff. As
for Lana Lane's vocals, well to these ears they
sound like a slightly more powerful Candice Night
(Blackmore's Night). They are better than a lot
of female vocals currently heard on the metal
scene but as with many others suffer too much
from being overly dramatic.
For the unitiated then the DVD is actually the
better of the two releases to start with, but
ultimately I felt this release lacked enough substance
(and actual audio/visual quality) to rope me into
wanting to explore further.
Rating - 65% |
Kee
Marcello's K2 - Melon Divine (Frontiers Records
- Out Now) |
 |
Kee Marcello replaced John Norum
in Europe just after the band exploded into the
stratosphere with The Final Countdown. However,
fans of Europe's melodic rock will be more than
a little shocked by this release. This a very
heavy release in a modern power trio format. The
sound is much closer to bands of the ilk of Staind
than Europe. And to this end this is the problem,
there is a lot of attention to this trying to
sound modern. It however comes across as sounding
a little contrived and forced, much like when
George Lynch attempted to update his sound.
Fans of modern metal may well enjoy
this release, some of the riffs are good but sadly
I feel they would work better in a different context.
Marcello also seems to have taken his cue from
modern band as to how his guitar solos should
sound. The solos that are on offer are of the
follow the melody line variety - perhaps so as
not to offend the audience which it would seem
this album is aimed at.
Fans of modern metal may enjoy
this release. Sadly I did not.
Rating
- 30% |
Kevin
DuBrow - In For The Kill (Mascot Records - Out
Now) |
 |
I will admit straight off that
I hated Quiet Riot. So I did not go into this
album from Kevin DuBrow with much enthusiasm.
In For The Kill is another covers album (something
Mascot seem to be specialising in at the moment)
that tends to focus on tracks from the 1970's.
DuBrow has armed himself with a strong band behind
his vocal yelps namely, Jeff Martin (Badlands)
on drums, Gunter Nezhoda on bass (Michael Schenker,
Pat Travers) and Kevin Curry on lead guitar -
who played back up on George Lynch's latest album.
This album is actually not too
bad. I am not a fan of DuBrow's voice, although
it is more palatable here than in Quiet Riot,
the musicianship is good and the choice of covers
is relatively original too. Highlights include
Deep Purple's Speed King, and T-Rex's 20th Century
Boy. Yes I was kinda suprised by this - so if
you like covers albums check this one out.
Rating
- 60% |
Hodson
- This Strange World (Frontiers Records - Out
Now) |
 |
Hodson is a new,
Melodic Hard Rock band, brainchild of current
Ten and Bob Catley (Magnum) keyboardist Paul Hodson.
Formed in 2003, Hodson consist of Paul on vocals
and keyboards, Vince O’Regan (Pulse, Bob
Catley) and guitar and Josie Vespa on bass.
This Strange World sees Paul Hodson
also take on the new role as singer in addition
to his keyboard duties. Hodson possesses a good
voice sounding somewhat like a mix of Steve Grimmett
(Lionsheart) and Tony Martin (Black Sabbath/The
Cage). Stylistically the album could be described
as classic sounding English metal with the timbres
of Dio and Tony Martin era Black Sabbath with
some of the pomp flair of Magnum.
For the most part this is an enjoyable
slice of classic metal. Vince O'Regan's guitar
work does get a tad squeely in places (and sounds
overly digital) and the lead work does disappoint
a little. Also the bands version of the Rainbow
classic A Light In The Black does seem let the
overall album down.
Fans of Hodson's work with Ten
and Bob Catley will enjoy this as will fans of
classic metal. But mostly its nothing new in the
genre or in the song writing department.
Rating
- 65% |
Faraz
Anwar - Abstract Point Of View (Lion Music - Out
Now) |
 |
This six track debut
(that manages to clock in at 45 minutes) all instrumental
cd from Faraz Anwar is home to some great fusion
esque guitar work over a modern progressive metal
backdrop. Anwar's worklead reminds me quite a
lot of John Petrucci coupled with Allan Holdsworth.
The album sees use of a lot of atmospheric effects
in the background to help realise Anwar's vision.
Unfortunately the album is marred slightly by
a weak production, with the bass and drums being
the main sufferers. This does leave the album
sound a little lacking and did take away some
of my enjoyment. However, the quality of some
of the tracks still manages to shine through,
particularly on the Rush-esque second track 'Maze'.
The middle eastern influences heard in 'Prophet'
route back to Faraz's origin's in Pakistan.
Overall 'Abstract Point Of View' is a competant
instrumental release, which by no means definite
is an enjoyable slice of music all the same.
Rating - 74% |
House
Of Shakira - First Class (Lion Music - Out Now) |
 |
House Of Shakira
shows just how much Lion Music have branched out
of late from their virtuoso guitar roots. This
band deliver strong melodic Scandinavian rock
with First Class actually being the bands fourth
album. The band have progressed from a Journey
esque debut to this, which is home to a more individual
sound and closer in line with fellow Scandie rockers
Damned Nation and Treat.
The guitar work is nice and punchy and the vocals
are very clear and well delivered. The rhythm
section also impress and lock in well on the likes
of 'Uncontrolled', the superb 'You Are' and 'Celebration
Bound'. The acoustic led 'Black and Blues Skies'
shows good maturity, whilst 'Creep' melds a good
classic Thin Lizzy vibe with a Journey-ish chorus.
'First Class' is a quality album with good songs
and performances throughout. House Of Shakira
are starting to come of age and with this album
look set to take on all competition in their path.
Rating - 84% |
| Destiny
- Future Of The Past (GMR Music - Out Now) |
 |
One of
Sweden's very first real heavy metal bands - Destiny
- was formed in 1982. Today, after twenty years,
Destiny is more powerful, dark and heavy than
ever. For every album Destiny have been evolving
the songwriting without forgetting the roots.
For a band that have
been going over 20 years these guys sound fresh
and full of vigour. Future Of The Past is home
to some fine chunky riffs that are firmly planted
in the classic Metal genre, albeit with a more
modern cutting edge. The vocals are strong and
quite aggressive yet work well with the music
on offer.
This isn't going to win
any prizes for individuality but for those that
like things classic but with enough punch to sound
still relevant Future Of The Past could be just
the ticket.
Rating
- 70% |
Steve
Smith and Vital Information - Come On In (Mascot
Records - Out Now) |
 |
With the jazz fusion quartet's
11th album, Come On In, Tom Coster, Frank Gambale,
Baron Browne and Steve Smith serve up a veritable
banquet of sounds. This is jazz fusion by some
of the leaders in the field.
Come On In is relatively varied through is 62
minute running time, however nothing ever really
gets beyond upbeat jazz, so if your a die hard
metaller stay well clear. Those however that like
some more mellow airy vibes every now and again
will find something to enjoy here.
Frank Gambale is in restraint mode with very
little of the monster sweep picking technique
he is famous for on show. Closing track High Wire
is the best on offer, and in no small part due
to Gambale's dirtier guitar tone (its relatively
clean elsewhere), and Steve Smith more energized
drumming in a rockier vein .
Come On In is competant enough for the jazz fusion
fan.
Rating - 60% |
