The Murder Of My Sweet – A Gentleman’s Legacy (Frontiers Music Srl)
Right, just hang in there while I explain this. The Murder Of My Sweet are no strangers to a concept record but their sixth studio album A Gentleman’s Legacy is the sequel to a concept album A Gentleman’s Hurricane by the band Mind’s Eye. The link between the two is producer/drummer Daniel Flores who is the main creative force behind Mind’s Eye and The Murder Of My Sweet. So I suggest going back and listening to the Mind’s Eye record if you want to have a hope of understanding what the heck is going on story wise (or read the press release where everything is explained). But lets’ move away from that and concentrate on this album.
Right, just hang in there while I explain this. The Murder Of My Sweet are no strangers to a concept record but their sixth studio album A Gentleman’s Legacy is the sequel to a concept album A Gentleman’s Hurricane by the band Mind’s Eye. The link between the two is producer/drummer Daniel Flores who is the main creative force behind Mind’s Eye and The Murder Of My Sweet. So I suggest going back and listening to the Mind’s Eye record if you want to have a hope of understanding what the heck is going on story wise (or read the press release where everything is explained). But lets’ move away from that and concentrate on this album.
Again Daniel Flores’ has crafted a dramatic theatrical record that skillfully blends prog, symphonic and power metal, Flores influenced heavily by Queensryche and Genesis on the original album so trying to recapture that here, as the lyrics delivered brilliantly once again by vocalist Angelica Rylin as the new female protagonist of the continuing story line. Clocking in at just over an hour this is prog metal record, the songs undulate and shift in tone throughout. The addition of experienced prog bassist Patrick Janson and Frontiers Music house guitarist Mike Palace upping the musical power of this record, Palace especially was fan of Mind’s Eye so jumped at the chance to play on this sequel.
The album was true labour of love, taking longer than any previous TMOMS record but the resulting completed record makes for a thrilling listen that is worthy follow up to the Mind’s Eye original. Fans of both bands will enjoy this record due to the cinematic music, the expansive vocals and conceptual story. Whether they will revisit the story again is up in the air but A Gentleman’s Legacy is no difficult follow up. 8/10
Cap Outrun - High On Deception (Frontiers Music Srl)
Despite having one of the worst album covers I've ever seen, Cap Outrun's latest album is a quality slice of Swedish melodic prog rock. Formed in 2008 they went on hiatus shortly after however they have reformed to write their debut full length album. Still led by guitarist Andrée Theander and keyboardist Erik Wiss, Cap Outrun have a style not far off bands such as Boston and Toto, utilising AOR, Prog and other crossover/fusion elements, High On Deception is a record that will move between melodic rockers like the title track and piano led ballads such as Disaster Mindset where they also have a lot of technical elements that are taken from bands such as Dream Theater.
Zelbo – In My Dreams (Frontiers Music Srl)
In My Dreams is packed full of keyboard heavy Scandi AOR. A Norwigiean act the Zelbo have musical links to bands like Europe, Work Of Art and Da Vinci, the last one due to Zelbo being the solo project of Da Vinci keyboardist Dag Selboskar. He has been tinkling the ivories in AOR bands since the 80’s so he’s got bags of experience, putting all of this into the slick melodic rock that features on this record. Now it’s nothing you wouldn’t have heard before if you’re an AOR fanboy/or girl but it’s delivered with a heavily buffed shine.
Despite having one of the worst album covers I've ever seen, Cap Outrun's latest album is a quality slice of Swedish melodic prog rock. Formed in 2008 they went on hiatus shortly after however they have reformed to write their debut full length album. Still led by guitarist Andrée Theander and keyboardist Erik Wiss, Cap Outrun have a style not far off bands such as Boston and Toto, utilising AOR, Prog and other crossover/fusion elements, High On Deception is a record that will move between melodic rockers like the title track and piano led ballads such as Disaster Mindset where they also have a lot of technical elements that are taken from bands such as Dream Theater.
Theander has brought in some quality musicans for this album adding ex-Creye drummer Carl Tudén and ex-Constancia bassist Linus Abrahamson for the bottom end while behind the mic are the smooth as silk vocals of Outloud's Chandler Mogel, once again showing his vocal versatility. What Cap Outrun is the fusion between melodic touches and technical dexterity, take a song such as Shadow On The Wall where it's a powerful piano based ballad but with some excellent guitar playing. Now there are probably too many ballads on the record, much of it sat in a slower pace but Chandler's voice is suited that, personally I like the jazz influenced stuff such as My Destination as it has massive Toto vibes. In fact I'd say if you are a fan of the silky smoothness of Toto you'll find a lot to like about Cap Outrun. A pleasing return. 7/10
Zelbo – In My Dreams (Frontiers Music Srl)
In My Dreams is packed full of keyboard heavy Scandi AOR. A Norwigiean act the Zelbo have musical links to bands like Europe, Work Of Art and Da Vinci, the last one due to Zelbo being the solo project of Da Vinci keyboardist Dag Selboskar. He has been tinkling the ivories in AOR bands since the 80’s so he’s got bags of experience, putting all of this into the slick melodic rock that features on this record. Now it’s nothing you wouldn’t have heard before if you’re an AOR fanboy/or girl but it’s delivered with a heavily buffed shine.
The musicians Dag has assembled all giving 100% here from the soulful vocals to the deft rhythm section and the soaring guitar solos on songs such as Wild, Young And Free. Now it’s not all ballad based, thankfully as things get rocky moving into the style of Europe on Next Flight To Venus and also there’s a big whack of Journey, in fact Fortune & Fame steals the riff from Don't Stop Believing, but there are a lot of tracks that are ready to bother melodic/classic rock radio stations that will lap up these mid-80’s sounds. In My Dreams is Scandi AOR in its simplest form but with a heavily experienced band who were there the first time adding to the authenticity. 6/10
Usurper – Master Of The Realm (Self Released)
Do you like Iron Maiden? Usurper like Iron Maiden, so much so that it seems they’re trying to take their crown (get it? Usurper). Coming from Newcastle Upon Tyne, this Geordie band are clad in leather, chains and probably have every NWOBHM album released, even the obscure ones on cassette. It certainly seems that they have nailed their colours to the mast of the NWOBHM with their debut album Master Of The Realm. The first two tracks alone bring everything you’d want from the genre, War Of The Machines is a theatrical chugging anthem, that sets the tone for fantasy/historical lyrics, while Freerunner is speedy riffer with a repetitive chorus, the sort meant to be sung with fist in the air and a beer in the hand.
What I fully appreciate here are Paul Atkinson’s vocals which are better than many NWOTHM band, though he does sound more like European screamers such as Michael Kiske than Bruce Dickinson, just to have a good singer fronting a traditional heavy metal band is a win. On the The Devil & The Traveler he manipulates his voice for both parts. The production on the album too feels tough but authentic to the style, there’s clearly been a lot of time and work put into this record to make it a much more superior offering to the EP.
The twin axe attack of Ian Fisher and Liam Kennedy is prominent throughout, on Sailing At Full Mast (ooh err missus) especially while bassist Joe Summerfield and drummer Den Taylor flex their muscle as the driving force beneath the guitar riffs on Witchfinder. Master Of The Realm is a really strong debut from Usurper, with all the Maidenisms you'd want and much more it's a great listen. 8/10