Edguy has become one of the big guns on today's Metal scene. A unique blend of fascinating song writing skills, a dose of rather insane but refreshing humour, a genre-wise melting pot strategy and most important of all an incredible ability to dig out those huge catchy elements that, at least for my taste, are in very high value.
Rocket Ride marks the bands seventh studio album and it seems as if the joy of being in this band hasn't been greater than now.
The first event entitled
Sacrifice deserves a place among
Edguy's best compositions, a grandiose eight-minute roller coaster of neatly selected thrills. While getting off to a slow start it soon gains tempo and accomplishes to vary the tour all along, giving the listener a very entertaining ride with the soaring chorus as a climax.
Tobias comprehensive musical talent is easily detected by the fact that he has managed to mix in soft piano passages, effectual acoustic guitar arrangements, monster riffing and progressive drum sections into one song.while keeping everything from falling apart.
Matrix could very well become a live favourite with its heavy groove, sing-a-long chorus and cool mid-section "stop and go" effect.
Edguy's continued evolution has fostered a less speedy and more mid-tempo style. That the band hasn't lost its flair for making fast Power Metal cuts is represented by
Return To The Tribe. In best
Helloween style the song has been assigned with some harmonious lead guitar action while the drumming is both technical and forceful.
I find
The Asylum a very interesting song, mostly because I can't really associate it with much of their older stuff, it kind of represents a slightly new direction and that's always exciting. The song has an extensive build up before it goes into a powerful groovy and stomping rhythm where a deep bass takes an important position. The track has a loose structure and there are plenty of room for different experimentations. It doesn't grab my attention all the way through but it's a very good song and credit to the band for this rather unusual approach.
I'm usually a big fan of the diversion and emotion a ballad can bring along, on Rocket Ride it's called
Save Me. The delicate atmosphere works and all in all it's a nice but also a tiny bit predictable track.
Superheroes mixes heavy riffing with a Hard Rock foundation while a simple but somehow infectious refrain holds the concept in a tight lease.
The western like melody popping up here and there is not fitting in but again this is a decent song.
Fucking With Fire (Hair Force One) is a direct attempt to create a pompous Rock tune with nostalgic tendencies. The rhythm section is powerful and has a charm of its own, but it never really becomes that exciting.
As you properly have figured out, not everything clicks on this album and it doesn't quite reach the highs of Hellfire Club,
Trinidad also reflects this fact, being a song
that becomes too silly and uninteresting, plus having a tiresome chorus.
When that is said this album has so much quality music that easily outweighs what for most of the time can be labelled as a mere trifles, it will have no trouble finding its way into my stereo on a regular basic that's for sure.
Take
Out Of Vogue that I already have become addicted to, what an infectious drive, lush keyboard work, over the top chorus and melodic solo, simply amazing.
The multisided lyrical universe is another plus, clever passages reflecting longing and personal confusion but also joyful or should I say lustful satirical commentary making things quite colourful.
One particular aspect that takes on a different role than earlier
Edguy records is the in-front keyboard, giving extra texture to the rhythm guitar in
Wasted Time (another strong composition), providing suiting background support in
Sacrifice and adding a completely genius and immensely memorable melody line in
Matrix, just to name a few examples. I think this development has sharpened the overall dynamic of the songs.
The band has been together for a long time and their musical abilities, professionalism and tightness can't be questioned, being that on disc or on stage.
I can't put a finger on the production either, coming close to perfect with its rich, deep and distinct impact.
This is yet another competent release that draws a lot of strength from a very diverse formula.
Written by
Tommy Thursday, March 9, 2006
Show all reviews by TommyRatingsTommy: 7.5/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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