New releases were coming thick and fast toward the end of 2007.
Here are a few albums that didn't get a full review, for one reason or another.
House Of Shakira 'Detox' (Lion Music).Their fifth and best album yet, no argument.
'Detox' makes you realise that HOS maybe just tried too hard on previous releases. There's a comfortable, confident feel here, like they've found their groove at last.
It alternates between strutting melodic metal and blue collar melodic rock, filled with
Tyketto strength tunes and big, bombastic choruses. Uneasy bedfellows you might think, but House Of Shakira make it work.
Crystal Ball 'Secrets' (AFM Records)Mark Sweeney found solo territory to be a cold, unwelcoming place, full of hard to please music critics.
Back on familiar ground now with Crystal Ball, Sweeney clearly sees that the future lies with the tried and tested CB formula. Solidly and soundly produced by Michael Bormann, it takes the safe route through heavy'n'hard melodic rock. Energetic, riffy and peppered with colourful choruses, it'll meet with acceptance by fans without really breaking out of that limited circle.
Axxis 'Doom Of Destiny' (AFM Records)Axxis's last album 'Paradise In Flames' marked out a band on the rise and hoisted them onto European stages with big hitters
Helloween and Gamma Ray.
'Doom Of Destiny' picks up the baton with all the confidence of an Olympic relay runner, delivering blood stirring epics alongside more subdued material with gusto and grace.
As you might expect, there's an operatic intensity to much of the material, but it's also slickly commercial and winningly tuneful, clearly aiming for a wider market now.
Produced by the band and mixed by the ubiquitous Dennis Ward, it sounds damn good too.
Action 'S/T' (Frontiers Records)Action's mainmen, guitarist David Ramos and vocalist Jack Marques rose from the ashes of nearly men, Mars Hill.
Unfortunately this self titled debut is one of the label's weaker efforts. It sounds dated and is blighted by a poor mix. Or maybe the source recording was badly engineered.
Songs like 'Without Your Love', 'Someday' and 'Here In My Heart' were ten a penny in the eighties, and even the warm glow of nostalgia does nothing to improve them.
Mink S/T ( Grey Nurse Records/Fontana )Produced by Sylvia Massey and Chris Shaw, Oz band Mink's debut will get consequently get immediate attention.
It's hot n'sweaty hard rock in the vein of the Black Crowes and the 'Stones with a punky flavour bleeding through into the mix.
Edgy, catchy, contemporary, with a plentiful supply of in-your-face attitude, this debut will gain lots of airplay, immense praise and who knows, may even sell a few copies.
Shylock 'Devotion' (Artists Service)Ignore the abysmal artwork, this is a cracking little album.
Quality teutonic metal regularly mainlines on popular music, making it accessible, tempting the casual listener.
Arguably, 'Devotion' goes a step further, dressing up immediate melodies in rock clothing, then spraying on a lightly metallised sheen.
Look closely and you'll see shades of
Shakra and glimpses of
Gotthard ghosting through these grooves. The songs are chock a block with bone dry riffs, rock solid rhythms and neatly crafted melodies, delivered with confidence and clarity, thanks to a big, authoritative production job.
Written by
Brian Friday, January 18, 2008
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