Abydos. The Little Boy's Heavy Mental Shadow Opera About The Inhabitants Of His Diary
A totally unique and phenomenal Progressive Metal/Rock opera-like concept with Vanden Plas singer Andy Küntz in top form. Far Away From Heaven still gives me the chills and Radio Earth is such an odd, brilliant piece of fluff joy. It's a fascinating, colourful and moving journey through the different shades of life.
Axel Rudi Pell. Tales Of The Crown
Solid and exactly what could be expected; this band still knows how to rock.
Blaze Bayley. The Man That Would Not Die
This album has balls all right. Intense and delightfully metallic with powerful vocals and tight musicianship.
Cage. Hell Destroyer
A massive metallic onslaught. There is still hope for Power Metal.
China Blue. Twilight Of Destiny
Tony Mills is a fantastic singer and he does show some of that here. The album somehow has problems with fully coming together; it has a distant feel at times but also some very harmonious stuff going for it.
Coldplay. Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
It doesn't reach the high standard of X&Y but especially Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love and Viva La Vida makes it worthwhile, two odd and compelling compositions.
Cryonic Temple. Immortal
It's an OK effort, but unfortunately quite tiresome and without that something to hold it together.
Daedalus. The Never Ending Illusion
Just above average Progressive Metal, musically the band sounds tight but the album suffer from incoherent song writing.
Dionysus. Anima Mundi
Enlightening, pompous and sparkling melodic Power Metal. Divine is no less than a masterpiece, the chorus leaves you breathless and the lead guitar work is simply phenomenal.
Dogpound. A Night In The Gutter
I totally dig this unique bands style. Melodic Hard Rock with a raw and humorous twist. Their second album is a big step forward from the first one, a fantastic album with one cool song after another. Still My Heart and In Another Lifetime are a few of many favourites.
Evolve IV. Decadent Light
Progressive Rock with a diverse, slightly psychedelic and relaxed approach. I can't help but feel that it becomes a bit watered-down after a while, but you'll find some unique and interesting ideas a long the way.
Eyefear. The Unseen
Well-produced and performed Power Metal, the symphonic touch adds a dramatic edge. Pretty good effort but with few stand out moments.
Frost. Experiments In Mass Appeal
Rather interesting and moody Progressive Rock with compelling, thick atmospheres.
Guns N' Roses. Chinese Democracy
Messy, disconnected, irritating and without aim, soul or purpose. This is not how I want to remember Guns N' Roses, shame Axl had to wrap the band name around himself before deciding to dive head first into the mud.
Not a single song will have me coming back for this; the sound is like liquid plastic and the songs filled with so many wry alternative elements making things even more incoherent than they all ready are. 14 songs and not a single one close to a winner...embarrassing.
Neal Morse. Lifeline (2 CD)
Another quality release from Neal, Lifeline is at times down right beautiful, the music well thought out and the performance top notch.
The very Christian orientated lyrics are way overdone, but most of the time I seem able to shake it off or take the words into another context. The music has a most amazing comforting aura and natural flow.
Pain Of Salvation. BE
Prepare to enter a world like no other. This album still fascinates and leaves me in a very strange state of mind.
Place Vendome. Streets Of Fire
The debut was an overall good album that apart from a couple of songs failed to leave a lasting impression. This is something quite different, an almost constant flow of ultra melodic AOR, big choruses, bunchy hooks and soaring emotions.
And Kiske...well he is just a world-class vocalist laying down some of his most impressive work ever. Try out My Guardian Angel, Follow Me and A Scene In Replay for a taste of pure heaven.
Presto Ballet. The Last Art Of Time Travel
Some really lengthy Prog Rock compositions carried out with a sense of improvisation and impressive structuring. Kurdt Vanderhoof has put together another fine album.
Ray Wilson. Change
A fantastic album deeply rooted in strong emotional ties.
Ray Wilson. Propaganda Man
I miss a bit of the hard edge from the previous Stilskin album and a few more memorable melody lines as found in abundance on Change. Still an enjoyable collection of moody acoustic driven Rock.
Redemption. The Fullness Of Time
One of the best and lyrically most meaningful Progressive Metal albums in my collection, a new classic so to speak...it just has it all.
Royal Hunt. Collision Course
It's got drama, punch and great musicianship with Mark Boals comfortably fitting in.
Saxon. Into The Labyrinth
It gains strength with time but the real highlights are few. Battalions Of Steel is nevertheless amazing.
Secret Sphere. Blood Sweet Theory
Decent Symphonic Power Metal, but the concept story never really becomes interesting.
Seven Steps To The Green Door. Step In 2 My World
Progressive Rock featuring three different singers and a rather weird musical style. Some tracks fall short of their mission but you'll find some very delicate compositions as well. Decent follow up.
Seventh Avenue. Terium
Quantity-wise there is enough meat on this, quality-wise things aren't that impressive. An overall OK disc that simply becomes too anonymous and tiresome in length.
Seventh Wonder. Mercy Falls
I was quite excited about the bands latest release Waiting In The Wings, sparkling with intriguing ideas and I'm happy to say that their new one follows suit, at least on the musical front. The high amount of spoken parts are unfortunately very disturbing and like most narration not carried out successfully. It's also as if the album has too much weight to carry, but you'll find some extremely memorable passages a long the way.
Syspure. When Times Fades...
Progressive Power Metal with a very distinct symphonic sound in the vein of Symphony X. Unfortunately it comes off too fragmented without a clear focus, but definitely a good effort.
Tomorrow's Eve. Tales From Serpentia
I liked their latest one quite a bit and even though this also has some solid Progressive Metal to offer it too seldom gets interesting. The real problem is nevertheless the terrible narration, not only is it distracting and ill performed the same sentences gets repeated over and over...When does bands learn that narration almost every time messes things up?
Vanden Plas. The God Thing
It doesn't really catch on as most of their other albums; somehow being too free flowing. Still a cool disc with some amazing progressive parts, I have always been a big fan of Günter Werno's dreamy key wizardry.
Votum. Time Must Have A Stop
Mellow Progressive Rock with a soft, intriguing approach. Quite nteresting.
Vision Divine. 9 Degrees West Of The Moon
Out goes the amazing Michele Luppi and back in the fold we find Fabio Lione, I'm a huge fan of Luppi so this is not something I was hoping for but Lione does a very good job. Violet Loneliness is truly special and just wonderfully symphonic in a relaxed way. As a whole the album is too short, lacking those really memorable moments.
Warrel Dane. Praises To The War Machine
This album is unmistakeably Warrel Dane in appearance, nicely varied and quite compelling when it first settles in. Brother has a deep, real melancholy and the chorus in Messenger is impossible to leave behind.
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