Cost: $1.00
One of my few finds from a very sparse recent haul at my main used CD provider. Generic power metal here, primarily speedy-tempoed, with minimal keyboard use--ultimately, just another band doing some permutation of a Helloween (unfortunately, here more Deris than Kiske)/Gamma Ray-derived formula. There are some basic similarities to the bigger Italian power metal bands, but they lack any real progressive stylings compared to Labyrinth and Vision Divine, and there are no Rhapsody symphonics.
There are only a couple of noteworthy moments on the album. "Memories" starts out with a sample(?) of a couple arguing (due to what's being said and the slightly stilted acting, I'm wondering if this originally came from a porn). Unfortunately, this turns into a sappy, overly-long ballad complete with a saxophone part (much less obtrusive than you'd think, though). "Net Love" has a nicely done short atmospheric outro with some acoustic guitar work...Of course, instead of breaking up some of the album's sound-alikeness and monotony by throwing such pieces throughout, they wait until it's almost over. I was expecting the cover of Toto's "Rosanna" to either be a complete trainwreck or a musical oddity, but it's a quite faithful rendition, only slightly beefed up in heaviness. Even as a change of pace, it doesn't add that much to the album, and I'd personally rather listen to the original.
I honestly doubt I'll revisit this. It's well-rooted and competent enough as a power metal release to keep it from being bottom of the barrel, but it doesn't rise above being average.
There are only a couple of noteworthy moments on the album. "Memories" starts out with a sample(?) of a couple arguing (due to what's being said and the slightly stilted acting, I'm wondering if this originally came from a porn). Unfortunately, this turns into a sappy, overly-long ballad complete with a saxophone part (much less obtrusive than you'd think, though). "Net Love" has a nicely done short atmospheric outro with some acoustic guitar work...Of course, instead of breaking up some of the album's sound-alikeness and monotony by throwing such pieces throughout, they wait until it's almost over. I was expecting the cover of Toto's "Rosanna" to either be a complete trainwreck or a musical oddity, but it's a quite faithful rendition, only slightly beefed up in heaviness. Even as a change of pace, it doesn't add that much to the album, and I'd personally rather listen to the original.
I honestly doubt I'll revisit this. It's well-rooted and competent enough as a power metal release to keep it from being bottom of the barrel, but it doesn't rise above being average.
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