A weekend in DC at a conference was a bit of mixed blessing. It allowed me plenty of time getting there and back to listen to some review music, but made it hard to write a column. I apologize for this tardy column.
CD Reviews
Brainstorm: Memorial Roots
A bunch of German power-metallers that release solid material. This hits all the right markers of quality for the genre. It's melodic, meticulously played, and well performed. What is lacking a bit is that extra bit that takes it from decent to great. It's almost hard to quantify what is missing from this release. Much of it seems contrived and by the numbers.
This is the type of release where you find yourself listening to it for a couple of times and then moving on to something else. It’s a temporary satisfaction that doesn’t stand the test of time. It is, however, the perfect stop gap until the next release by a band such as Gamma Ray. “Cross the Line” comes across as something you would expect from Judas Priest. There are Iron Maidenisms on here as well.
If anything this release doesn’t sound particularly Germanic, it lacks that certain oomph quality that bands like Helloween seem to retain. Ultimately, if you are a fan, I suspect this will keep you happy. If you like as much power metal as you can handle, then it might be a good choice. Here’s hoping they manage a great album next time round.
Mob Rules: Radical Peace
This lot are from Germany and have been around for quite a while, fifteen years in fact. And unlike what the name might suggest to some metal-heads they have nothing to do with Black Sabbath or doom metal. They are purveyors of melodic power metal and on this release, at least, do it very well. There is a certain progressive metal element that seeps into the music on this CD and gone are some of the power metal by numbers of their previous output.
Its very much a case of a band that has hit its stride and come into its own. Even thought I made a point that this band have nothing to do with the original Black Sabbath sound, they do at times sound a bit like the Tony Martin vocals era of Sabbath (which many Sabbath fans discount completely). The Mob Rules do go for a “big sound” where ever they can manage, especially on songs like “Children of the Flames”.
Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Might I add a suggestion:
Watch out for Richard Christy's new band Charred Walls of the Damned. Here is the first available track - Ghost Town
Freakin Awesome!