Recently got back from a most excellent Bon Jovi concert, 2-½ hour of almost forgotten gems and massive hits, read live report here.
Summer holiday has finally arrived which equals time to dust off the piles of CD's located in odd places around my apartment. The series Heroes is by the way highly recommendable if you have some time on your hands, it most likely will get you addicted.
 
Status
Half way through the year offers an occasion to evaluate what has been and look at what's yet to come. Especially the Melodic Rock/AOR genre has until now unleashed one fantastic album after the other.
 
Some of the best albums until now:
House Of Lords. Come To My Kingdom
Brother Firetribe. Heart Full Of Fire
Ayreon. 01011001
Khymera. The Greatest Wonder
Work Of Art. Artwork
Opeth. Watershed
Everon. North
Pyramaze. Immortal
Myland. No Man's Land
H.e.a.t. H.e.a.t.
 
Some highly anticipated releases still to come:
Harem Scarem. Hope
Evergrey. Torn
Iced Earth. The Crucible Of Man - Something Wicked Part II
Starbreaker. Love's Dying Wish
Metallica. Death Magnetic
 
Must see bands at Wacken 2008:
Iron Maiden
Avantassia
Opeth
Kamelot
Nightwish
Sonata Arctica
 
 
And then there's the playlist:
 
Boland. In My Corner (EP)
5 track EP featuring comfortable and melodic Rock with a catchy scent.
 
Bon Jovi. This Left Feels Right. (2 DVD)
Some of the semi-acoustic versions shed a different light on some classic tracks; others don't do the originals justice and seem stiff. I guess it often goes that way when you try something like this.
 
Brother Firetribe. Heart Full Of Fire
If you liked the first one, you'll also cherish the follow up. Production is clearer but still pompous. The music is AOR melodic overload with soaring keys and massive guitar hooks. If Wildest Dreams and Runaways doesn't make you look at life just an inch more positively I don't know what will, these two songs are down right PHENOMMENAL. It's not all fairytale brilliance with a few songs appearing a bit static (Out Of My Head, Going Out With A Bang) but overall an outstanding album that gets better with each listen.
 
Expedition Delta. Expedition Delta
Serbian Srdjan Brankovic is the man behind one of the surprise releases of the year. A unique, melodic and keyboard orientated Progressive Rock/Metal come together featuring some very interesting guest singers, keyboardist and guitarists. On vocals Nikola Mijic does an outstanding job through all 11 songs, a penetrating voice with a rougher approach on the side.
The songs are technical but with the catchy choruses and harmonious melodies up front and most compositions seem very dynamic. Definitely worth checking out for fans of both progressive and lighter melodic stuff.
 
Firewind. The Premonition
The band continues the stream of solid releases with another high energy burst, enriched by an excellent and stormy production. The band has yet to release a really fantastic album and this is a bit too much a safe play to get there, that doesn't take anything away from awesome tracks like Head Up High and Mercenary Man.
 
Harem Scarem. Rubber
It's lighter, easily digested and almost poppy. but with some really addictive melodies. Another cool record from the Canadians lacking a bit more substance.
 
H.e.a.t. H.e.a.t.
Highly recommendable Melodic Hard Rock from Sweden. No messing around this is cut down to the core and mostly very successful and effective. There For You is irresistible appealing.
 
Journey. Frontiers (Remastered)
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) is a clear favourite; a confident mid-tempo rocker with enhancing keys and Faithfully is so special in its own right.
Lots of romantic sentiments floating through the air and delicious musical variations, still I don't hold this as an overly fantastic release; mid way through some songs begin to go too much into self-oscillation. The soundtracks included as bonus cuts are by the way excellent.
 
Judas Priest. Nostradamus
It's a grand undertaking and after Angel Of Retribution I was a bit unsure of what to expect. My verdict is overall positive, lots of variation and grand, dark atmospheres.
Somehow I miss a few more songs with a classic, fast and direct Judas Priest mark on them, but I accept that the concept idea equals some limitations.
The guitar solos are not up to the world class standard experienced on Painkiller or Jugulator but there are on the other hand plenty of interesting layers to figure out as the album slowly but firmly unfolds.
 
Myland. No Man's Land
Continually melodic, partly glorious and at times almost heavy this is a delightful piece of effusive AOR. Comfortable synthesizer imagery and roaring keys sets the way to go with electric guitars and a tight drum/bass performance adding rich texture.
You just have to surrender to the divine guitar lick in One Step Closer or the sweeping chorus in the beautifully slow paced The Wind Of Late September.
Vocalist Guido Priori has a unique and successful way of delivering the striking vocals, Tony Mills' high-pitched air raid comes to mind but Priori also has a deeper roar, quite charismatic indeed.
 
Opeth. Watershed (CD+DVD)
It's definitely Opeth and at the same time it reinvents the bands style. Eerie, brutal and beautiful it comes together as a sophisticated mystery.
The lyrical concept still twist my mind, I guess that's on purpose; some minor hints are given to a dark shrouded family tale.
The level of heaviness in Heir Apparent is chokingly vicious, the tenderness of Coil placidly appealing and the atmosphere in Hex Omega impassable gloomy... enjoy.
 
Pyramaze. Immortal
Matt Barlow delivers the goods with confidence and determination in his voice. It's great to hear him back on this third album from the Danish Power Metal hope that wins with repeated listening, rich key layers and a fierce rhythm section is spun together with delicacy. Check out Year Of The Phoenix for one of the best Power Metal songs to surface in a long time.
 
Red Dawn. Never Say Surrender
A classic Melodic Rock gem with Larry Baud laying down some "out of this world" vocal performances, the smashing I'll Be There is a perfect example. Flyin' High is a compact energy boost that just slays... all around amazing stuff.
 
The Tea Party. Seven Circles
I can't really explain it but this album contains something truly unique and emotionally involving. Groovy and intelligent rock mixed with progressive structuring, ambient layers and expressive vocals.
 
The V.U. Phoenix Rising
Keys To The City is an over the top, fists in the air, thrilling Rock anthem.
The keyboard work on this AOR treat is amazing and Kevin Chalfant's voice enchanting.

Written by Tommy
Friday, July 4, 2008