Songs penned at the opening of the 90s, lovely guitar riffs, gorgeous keyboards, a strong spellbinding voice to give life to it all...
Wildkard is likely the best kept secret in melodic rock today. The music was written under The
Zero Hour Project name as the 1990s first dawned. The music industry then was awash in the dirty carelessness of plaid painted grunge and whining alternative down tuned guitars. Judging by what was given radio play and which bands were becoming shunned and ignored, the songs were shelved and the members went seeking other pastures for their musical outlet. As the grass became greener and
AOR infused music started gaining favor again, it seemed about time to dust off the tracks and finally bring them to market. Thus
Wildkard was born and the album
"Megalomania".
"Megalomania" is a fitting title for the disc, a psychiatric symptom describing an illness marked by grand delusions. It also is a noun that has a better fitting description. This alternate meaning:
"an obsession with doing extravagant or grand things." seems to match the music contained within nicely. This cd could even be called a direct result of such an obsession. Written by guitarist Chris Jones and vocalist Nick Workman, the two joined with bassist Mikey J. and a slew of Finnish guests to record the disc. Now that the cd is in the hands of those that can best appreciate it, listening to it is a pure joy indeed. Workman has been vocalist for Kick and others but never has he allowed himself to just belt it. The results are golden, as he has a soaring, masculine voice that runneth over in throes of passion and is tough and biting for the rock n rollers.
Wildkard's
"Megalomania" is one super track after another. The ballad
"Wake Me Up When It's Over" is an abundance of delicate melodies, spritzes of ivory and smooth, buttery vocals.
"Falling Down" kicks the disc off in high style, guitars polished to shine on every pick stricken string and erupting for a full fledged melodic assault on the chorus.
"When Everything Has Changed" is high octane, giddy rock in the style of
Frontline and Pretty Maids. There's a quiet purity running underneath, making the song have a softer rounded feel.
"Whispers in the Dark" rides on swirling keys, feathery piano and soaring lead vocals. Potent and darker,
"Something Strange" comes across with a thumping force and softer moments that lurk behind a heavy curtain of thick woven layers.
"Letting Go" has a muscular metal edge as it flexes and stretches along, the guitars blazingly bubbling to the surface for molten pops of electricity.
"All I Have" is a slick all-out rollickin roller which builds and feeds off of its own sizzling energy. Not mind blowing but a nice, solid track.
"End of the World" turns that heat into a slower burn, letting sparks fly for verses and the volcanic chorus.
"7 Days" cracks the whip for shapely verses, a smoldering tension building bridge that becomes buried under the chorus' tidal wave. Anthemic and just a pleasurable listen, it works so well due to Nick's powerful vocal renditions and a flow that decidedly fits in with the band FM. Even simplier songs are turned into old school celebrations by that unforgettable voice.
"Right Here By My Side" ends the album on an entirely lighter
AOR note in a catchy hook filled midtempo pacing. The self assured pompous Def Leppard-like slickness lends this finale a bombastic vibe of fine tuned melodic excess.
Unexpected surprises such as this show just how timeless
AOR can be. With the material written almost two decades ago, but freshly recorded in the now of 2007, they have lost none of their charm or come stamped with an aging expiration date. An old-school vintage flavor of excess prevails, but alot of that adds to the charm and accessibility of the disc. Hopefully enough people will come across this album and fuel the fires of these songwriters into creating a sequel for the future. What it might sound like, judging by the amount of time and life experience from then to now likely will shapen any further endeavors into a different beast altogether. Whatever happens in this band's future, the now is what is most important, and this is one rosy release worthy of owning with more hooks in it than a fisherman's tackle box. Not every song is running on "perfect", a few fail to totally "pop", yet sifting through this release is like picking flaws in a batch of diamonds. No matter what you single out, its still sparkles despite a few cloudy parts marring its perfection.
Written by
Alanna Thursday, May 3, 2007
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