This album gallops by like a racehorse, never looking back. But wow, is it ever one hell of a ride.
Royal Hunt's leader, keyboardist Andre Anderson flexes his writing skills by penning ten tracks - about forty minutes worth of music - that is straightforward, no frills, hard rock. He stripped out all the over-indulgent instrumental frilly stuff and stuck to his guns. Pure, uninhibited rock that is bent toward the metal side. Andre's recognizable stamp is prevalent in each song, in fact, the whole project is pretty much like the
Royal Hunt progressive formula with all the bloated fat cut away. The juicy meat of the album is injected with a spicy
Pink Cream 69 flavor that keeps it lean and on track.
It is hard not to appreciate
"Three", even with its dodgy monicker and title. This is well sharpened Euro metal with a hard rock heart, rich harmonies and blazing good choruses. The vocals are also sublime. You get not just one, but two singers for your money and both are fantastic. It is a wonderful thing to hear them utilized to the best of their abilities and given some material to belt with all their metal might. First up you hear Paul Laine, who was dismissed from
Danger Danger when
Ted Poley returned to the fold and then it is
Pink Cream 69's David Readman, who pulls off a fabulous performance that equals that of Laine. Both are at the top of the game and put forth the best effort possible. They switch back and forth, one doing a track then the other, so once you get the disc kicked off with Laine, it is easy to keep track of who's who til Readman brings the curtain down.
A fast, thrilling, rock'n'roll ride with a Euro bent vibe that is sure to bring a giddy smile to the face of anyone that likes their music on the heavier side. Some of these melodies are down right brilliant and it is a treat to hear them up front on display instead of hidden behind a plethora of instrumental noodling. They would have been lost in the
Royal Hunt setting, but here are given freedom to shine.
While a task to pick out just a couple of highlights, since the album is one rip roaring great rock song after another, there are one or two that shine a little brighter than the rest.
Straight to the Heart is a ripping piece with dramatic vocals, a lightning struck chorus and blues kissed guitar. This could easily have been a RH piece, it has the marks of the band all over it.
End of My Rope has a building, powerful feel, like something harsh and brittle is flexing just below the surface. The song breaks out into melodic metal goodness before you know it.
Rise just kicks ass and serves as a brilliant flashback to Anderson's work on "Moving Target" about ten years ago.
Dust to Dust is slower and more profound, taking in account a heavier use of flashy keys and a more overall bombastic, epic feel. Biding its time and rumbling like thunder, David Readman sounds like a vocal god here, turning in quite an impressive performance that fits the mood and atmosphere of the track like a skin tight glove.
Bulletproof takes a twist and fits well with Laine's vocals. Maybe the cheesiest and most lackluster song of the album, but even it offers plenty to enjoy aurally. The bent is more of swaggering rock with the big huge RH style backing vocals to pump it up.
Like a ten shot salute to the glory of hard rock you get one explosive track after another. The keys are furious but there's just enough unique touches and spark filled choruses to make each four minute whirlwind worthwhile. Andre Anderson may have slacked off with his main band,
Royal Hunt, but on this
"Three" project he has managed to redeem himself and produce a product that rivals his first solo album. Not to mention stacking up or even surpassing the beginning days of RH, before the band became a victim of showing off versus substance. Having to work in the confines of the four minute time limit has invigorated his writing and the shockwave effect is a rejuvenation in his playing. Not only on keys but guitar as well. Throw in two great vocalists and
"Three" is a number - and an album - worth remembering.
Written by
Alanna Sunday, April 23, 2006
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