Timo Tolkki’s Avalon – The Enigma Birth (Frontiers Records)
Seventh Dimension – Black Sky (Corrupted Records)
The fourth entry into the Avalon series of records from Finnish power metal legend Timo Tolkki once again sees him team up with producer/guitarist Aldo Lonobile (Sweet Oblivion), he has also brought in yet more talented guest singers to appear on this record, giving each of them a different sound but ultimately it’s an album of neo-classical rampages and soaring power ballads from the man who founded Stratovarius and wrote the blue print for European power metal. A song such as Without Fear is exactly what you’d want from Tolkki, pure rampaging power metal with classical style playing, it’s the kind of song that Tolkki used to write in Stratovarius and has made his name doing so. Happily here he has Fabio Lione (Rhapsody) providing the vocals for that extra shot of theatrics. Lione also appears on Dreaming which is another feisty power metal song.
Elsewhere Tolkki collaborator Catarina Nix (Chaos Magic) returns for the poppy I Just Collapse and the melodramatic Memories, which also features Unleash The Archers Brittany Slayes, who also provides roars to The Fire And The Sinner as well. The tracks are catered to the voice, the two featuring Brazilian vocalist Raphael Mendes (Icon Of Sin) sounds like Maiden due to his dead ringer Bruce Dickinson style. For Beautiful lie the record gets more progressive due to Dream Theater man James LaBrie being behind the mic. It’s a myriad of styles but retaining the Timo Tolkki influence throughout, it’s also interesting to hear how the new style of Electronic Dance Metal that band like Amaranthe do, owes so much to Tolkki’s propulsive influence witnessed by ex-Amaranthe man Jake E, picking up the baton on Truth.
Elsewhere Tolkki collaborator Catarina Nix (Chaos Magic) returns for the poppy I Just Collapse and the melodramatic Memories, which also features Unleash The Archers Brittany Slayes, who also provides roars to The Fire And The Sinner as well. The tracks are catered to the voice, the two featuring Brazilian vocalist Raphael Mendes (Icon Of Sin) sounds like Maiden due to his dead ringer Bruce Dickinson style. For Beautiful lie the record gets more progressive due to Dream Theater man James LaBrie being behind the mic. It’s a myriad of styles but retaining the Timo Tolkki influence throughout, it’s also interesting to hear how the new style of Electronic Dance Metal that band like Amaranthe do, owes so much to Tolkki’s propulsive influence witnessed by ex-Amaranthe man Jake E, picking up the baton on Truth.
The ballads of the record are resigned to Marina La Torraca (Phantom Elite) who distinct style suits something heavy and emotive, while the final vocalist is Youtube star Pellek, who I’ve never heard of but must be liked as he opens the record! Densely layered music from Tolkki and a conceptual feel throughout, it’s just great that after all these years and several issues, Timo Tolkki is still making great quality European power metal. 8/10
Seventh Dimension – Black Sky (Corrupted Records)
Much like their similar namesake, and fellow Swedes, Seventh Wonder, Seventh Dimension have followed up an ambitious concept record with one that is more straightforward style of progressive metal. I realise that progressive and straightforward are contradictory but after double concept record just having one disc and about 7 tracks may seem simpler. Musically they have tried to become more focused and heavier adding darker themes and more down-tuned elements to their music so there’s influences of Shadow Gallery, Dream Theater (Black Sky: Assembly), Symphony X and even Opeth (Kill The Fire). This turn towards the dark side makes for a listening experience that will appeal to metalheads as well as prog fans. A bit like when Dream Theater released A Train Of Thought it’s heavy but with the more conceptual touches Seventh Dimension have been associated with in the past.
Across the nine songs here the first few show this more focused, harder-edged style before it we have two song, 15 minute title track suite; Black Sky: Assembly/Black Sky: Into The Void, where those conceptual flourishes return. The musicianship is of high quality with guitarist Luca Delle Fave a bit of a virtuoso like Petrucci or Romeo (he also produced the record), the rhythm section of bassist Rikard Wallström and drummer Marcus Thorén guides the undulating riffs with some classic stop-start grooves, various time signature shifts and lots of jazzy breaks. The more bittersweet and orchestral flavours brought by Erik Bauer’s keys, though he also has full on solo chops on numerous tracks. Finally vocalist Nico Lauritsen, has a sonorous, poignant, expressive vocal that’s part Mikael Akerfeldt, part Matt Barlow. I came across Seventh Dimension as an unknown, however after my first listen to this record I went back to their earlier stuff, then listened to this again. That my friends is the sign of a good band! 9/10
Kent Hilli – The Rumble (Frontiers Music Srl)
Kent Hilli has had an interesting path to music, he was a professional footballer in his early life, before taking up the mantle of frontman later in his life than many singers, throughout the early 2000’s he was cover singer before forming Perfect Plan with whom he has released 2 albums. The Rumble though is his debut solo record, his astounding, honeyed voice perfect for these melodic rock anthems that come straight out of that 80’s radio rock era. Hilli’s vocal power is reminiscent of David Coverdale, Steve Perry, Joe Lynn Turner and Graham Bonnet, making for lots of soulful rockers and emotional ballads. It’s amazing to think that Hilli has only really been in ‘professional’ bands since 2014 as his voice has the timbre and style is that of someone who has been doing this 30/40-odd years.
Across the nine songs here the first few show this more focused, harder-edged style before it we have two song, 15 minute title track suite; Black Sky: Assembly/Black Sky: Into The Void, where those conceptual flourishes return. The musicianship is of high quality with guitarist Luca Delle Fave a bit of a virtuoso like Petrucci or Romeo (he also produced the record), the rhythm section of bassist Rikard Wallström and drummer Marcus Thorén guides the undulating riffs with some classic stop-start grooves, various time signature shifts and lots of jazzy breaks. The more bittersweet and orchestral flavours brought by Erik Bauer’s keys, though he also has full on solo chops on numerous tracks. Finally vocalist Nico Lauritsen, has a sonorous, poignant, expressive vocal that’s part Mikael Akerfeldt, part Matt Barlow. I came across Seventh Dimension as an unknown, however after my first listen to this record I went back to their earlier stuff, then listened to this again. That my friends is the sign of a good band! 9/10
Kent Hilli – The Rumble (Frontiers Music Srl)
Kent Hilli has had an interesting path to music, he was a professional footballer in his early life, before taking up the mantle of frontman later in his life than many singers, throughout the early 2000’s he was cover singer before forming Perfect Plan with whom he has released 2 albums. The Rumble though is his debut solo record, his astounding, honeyed voice perfect for these melodic rock anthems that come straight out of that 80’s radio rock era. Hilli’s vocal power is reminiscent of David Coverdale, Steve Perry, Joe Lynn Turner and Graham Bonnet, making for lots of soulful rockers and emotional ballads. It’s amazing to think that Hilli has only really been in ‘professional’ bands since 2014 as his voice has the timbre and style is that of someone who has been doing this 30/40-odd years.
His song writing too is good, it stays to the melodic rock/AOR style but is an homage rather than a pastiche, the bonus being that Mr 80’s retro himself Michael Palace plays everything here. He co-writes a track, Alessandro Del Vecchio has two co-writes and even Kent’s sister Tina has one, the remainder though are all Kent. It makes for a fun listen, Never Be Mine a sunny beach rocker, the title track a bouncy modern edged number, I Can’t Wait full of big Journey-like keys. There’s also a couple of saccharine ballads with Heaven Can Wait (with one of the most used titles in rock music) adding gospel, the massive Still In Love though is the most calorific in terms of sweetness, closing the album with lots of drama. For those that liked Perfect Plan, The Rumble will be more of that melodic rock goodness. 7/10
Vesicarum – Place Of Anarchy (One Eyed Toad Records)
Place Of Anarchy is London metal crew Vesicarum’s debut record. It’s a meaty morsel of aggressive death metal which features some guest help from deathcore veteran Richard Kane on Rightfully Mine, Helgrind’s Joe Lyndon, who pops up on The Pain I Feel, James Dawson of Bleed Again on Great Decay and The Demonstealer himself on final track Am I To Blame. They all add their own unique talents to the songs they appear on making these songs shift toward the guest’s individual styles. So what about the non-guest songs, well what have is some aurally battering death metal that is part-modern technicality and old school brutality, full of intense solos but also big grooves there’s touches of bands like Coroner, Obituary and even Bolt Thrower, the vocals especially more like groove metal than full death growling.
The band say this debut is darker than anything they’ve done previously and you have to agree, the lyrics talk about isolation and depression while the music rages against these feelings hammering home the collective emotional state of guitarist Martin Shipton, drummer Donal McGee and vocalist Glynn Neve. The latter bearing the collective soul on the slow and crushing Great Decay and Through My Darkest Days (where there’s even some clean vocals). A decent death metal record from this London based band, certainly ones to watch as they will mature as a band. 7/10