Metal Allegiance - Metal Allegiance (2015)

Metal Allegiance is The Avenger team of heavy metal. Formed by four members, Mike Portnoy, David Ellefson, Alex Skolnick and unlikely team brain Mark Menghi. Menghi who? As Portnoy describe :

“Mark is kind of like the Brian Epstein of the band,” says Portnoy. “He's the behind-the-scenes mastermind who put the whole thing together. When we began this as a live covers thing, he was the guy moving the chess pieces. When we decided to make original music, he became a huge creative element as a songwriter, as well.”

Together, they unleashed  debut album with the same title, Metal Allegiance. Ten songs being released with multiple vocalist join the stage, ranging from D.Randall Blythe, Troy Sanders to Phillip Anselmo to Tim "The Ripper" Owen.

The first song "Gift Of Pain" is in death metal spirit. D. Randall Blythe delivered a "smooth" scream vocal. It is curious to see how David Ellefson find more spirit than his M-deth allegiance. Mike Portnoy surely has enough fun with all the prog - death drumming. "Let Darkness Fall" is more prog-stoner metal feel. It got some kick ass riff through all the song, best for a good headbanging session. A bass solo in the interlude is most welcome. "Can't Kill The Devil" is finally a song that can be identified with one of the member's band, Testament.  Chuck Billy sing in the style of Testament of the The Soul of Black era and the song also representing that particular nostalgic element. Actually, most of the song try to match the singer with his/her style, or vice versa. Most notable is "Triangulum" epic which is divided to three movements. The band recreate most precise the thrash metal era in '80, almost Metallica - Ride the Lightning vibes. It's in instrumental setting with many guest guitarist join the party. The last song dedicated to the master of heavy metal, Dio. It is "We Rock" with six vocalist trying to lift up the song.

Metal Allegiance is awesome album with lot of muscular guitar riffs in front. The main style is thrash metal, followed by some Portnoy progressive metal drumming. The good news also, they represent much of the older guys music, in other words the '80s style of thrash metal. Fans of each musician will not upset because their heroes are exactly playing in what they expected to. Fantastic album created by , who again, Mark Menghi!

Metal Harem class : ********* eight stars out of ten

Metal Allegiance - Metal Allegiance (2015)
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01. Gift Of Pain
Vocals: D. Randall Blythe
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Guest Guitars: Gary Holt

02. Let Darkness Fall
Vocals: Troy Sanders
Lead, Rhythm & Acoustic Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums & Percussion: Mike Portnoy
Guest Bass: Mark Menghi & Rex Brown
Screams: D. Randall Blythe

03. Can't Kill The Devil
Vocals: Chuck Billy
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Guest Guitars: Phil Demmel & Andreas Kisser

04. Dying Song
Vocals: Philip H. Anselmo
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: Mark Menghi
Drums: Mike Portnoy

05. Scars
Vocals: Mark Osegueda & Cristina Scabbia
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy

06. Destination: Nowhere
Vocals: Matthew K. Heafy
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Guest Guitars: Matthew K. Heafy

07. Wait Until Tomorrow
Vocals: Doug Pinnick & Jamey Jasta
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums, Percussion & Additional Vocals: Mike Portnoy

8. Triangulum I. Creation Ii. Evolution Iii. Destruction (instrumental)
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Guest Guitars: Misha Mansoor, Ben Weinman, Charlie Benante, Phil Demmel, Matthew K. Heafy & Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal

09. Pledge Of Allegiance
Vocals: Mark Osegueda
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Guest Guitars: Charlie Benante, Gary Holt & Andreas Kisser

10. We Rock (Dio Cover) (Deluxe Edition Only)
Vocals: Mark Osegueda, Chris Jericho, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Alissa White-Gluz, Chuck Billy &
Steve "Zetro" Souza
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Guest Guitars: Andreas Kisser, Phil Demmel & Gary Holt

Serious Black - As Daylight Breaks (2015)

This is a serious group consisted of member with amazing "ex-" attributes. First is Roland Grapow, of ex-you-know-which-band is. The vocalist is Urban Breed of Project Arcadia, Dark Empire, and Tad Morose anyone? The next personality is Thomen Stauch of ex-Blind Guardian. Then we got Dominik Sebastian from Edenbridge, Jan Vacik of Dreamscape and ex-Visions of Atlantis bassist, Mario Lochert. All on board, and let's examine the music they offered.

First of all, the group named themself Serious Black. Many sources said this is not just another Roland Grapow project but a real band. As Daylight Breaks is their debut album. Comes with bulky 14 songs, inclusive of bonuses, they are all melodic metal in general. The first impression on "I Seek No Other Life" is pretty much, utterly, standard melodic power, with speedy drums and thick harmonize vocals. Their stronger song is the followed up "High And Low" which offered some serious power metal with leading keyboard theme on top. The band try to be a bit of progressive in their third song "Sealing My Fate", where they begin the song in calm piano before everyone kicks in full blasts. Then the band going oriental with "Temple Of the Sun" and "Akhenaton", this is maybe their most memorable song in the album. If you want something more technical, tune in "My Mystic Mind".

One must said it is hard to initially get the band's style signature, as the band looks only intend to re-create good old melodic metal. Sound mixing is extremely crystal clear. Musically they are quite balance, the vocal parts are all excellently executed with many harmonies and choirs. Keyboardist Jan Vacik help bring up the atmosphere with fantastic background soundtrack, as evidence in "As Daylight Breaks". His progressive metal background is not wasted here. Duet guitar solos from Grapow and Dominic, crazy bass and drum playing. This all good things make easy for vocalist Urban Breed to just finish the composition with his strong character voices. Serious Black in As Daylight Breaks is a great all around melodic metal to enjoy.

Metal Harem class: ********* eight stars out of ten

Buy it Here - Amazon

Serious Black - As Daylight Breaks  (2015)

01. I Seek No Other Life
02. High And Low
03. Sealing My Fate
04. Temple Of The Sun
05. Akhenaton
06. My Mystic Mind
07. Trail Of Murder
08. As Daylight Breaks
09. Someone Else s Life
10. Setting Fire To The Earth
11. Older And Wiser
12. Listen To The Storm
13. Fly On
14. No Son Of Mine

Line Up:
Urban Breed - Vocals (Project Arcadia, ex-Dark Empire)
Roland Grapow - Guitars (Masterplan, Roland Grapow, ex-Helloween)
Dominik Sebastian - Guitars (Edenbridge)
Mario Lochert - Bass (Emergency Gate, ex-Visions of Atlantis)
Jan Vacik - Keyboards (ex-Dreamscape)
Thomen Stauch - Drums (Savage Circus, ex-Blind Guardian, ex-Heavenward, ex-Iron Savior)

Timo Tolkki's Avalon - The Land of New Hope (2013)

Indeed it bring new hope when such an impressive array of power metal musicians gathered in one band. Timo Tolkki has regroup himself and create yet another power metal project. Challenged by a guy from his label company, he admit to want to do another "...fully orchestrated and sound big project". Surely but this is larger than any of his previous attempts, such as Revolution Renaissance and Symfonia, ever since he left Stratovarius. FYI, Timo Tolkki last news was in 2012, where he put a Classical Variations 2:Credo project in Pledge Music. Soon he cancelled this project but promised "...  there is no reason to be disappointed, you will hear and see very soon (probably in the first quarter of 2013) the outcome of what is happening behind the curtain." (source)

In the band member, this is almost the answer to Tobias Sammet's Avantasia. The band's name in fact just almost hit the same letter, Timo Tolkki's Avalon but please, there are 17 bands project with Avalon as the word! We quickly amazed in keyboards sections, we got three big names here, yet they share different style of music. Derek is progressive metal of course, Jens is old school power metal shred and Mikko is Luca Turilli's Rhapsody keyboard player that must be having the best idea in symphonic metal type of orchestration. Then the drummer is Alex of Rhapsody of Fire. Timo handle solely the guitar and bass, sorry no invited guest guitar player. In vocal department, Michael Kiske is busy man as he is the only person doubling at Avantasia and Avalon. I am glad Rob Rock is there. Tony of Sonata must be busy with the band but came along, as well Symphony's Russel Allen. The corset singers are Elize of Amaranthe and Sharon of Within Temptation. So that quite qualified them self as a supergroup enough to do a Metal Opera.

So, let's go to the songs.
Avalance Anthem, this is quite like a character introduction. Epic intro begin this song. In a minutes it seems Timo had successfully hybrid Stratovarius melodism with Rhapsody of Fire elements. Rob Rock, Russell Allen sing this together with Elize Ryd. The trio continue again in A World Without Us, which is begin with a rather Ritchie Blackmore-ian Rainbow riff. The orchestra layered still thick, Elize Ryd begin to introduce us to signature Timo Tolkki's song writing, where he like to sustain a full notes per each syllable. Enshrined in My Memory is also released with Youtube video. This is rather modern symphonic / gothic metal song, which when Elize Ryd sing just like home as her Amaranthe band likeliness. The song resembling Revolution Renaissance (RR) feel. In the Name of Rose come early for a ballad. Everyone should aware Timo tendency to put too soft ballad in metal project, so this is half the case (..there will be another ballad later). As half of the song later, we not hear only piano and flute anymore but a full band accompaniment, ushering Russell Allen in. At this point we should stress the guitar works is complimented all the songs in best manner. The solos and chops are very personal to each songs. Next is We Will Find A Way, those who familiar with RR works should quickly went back to the song Glorious And Divine as they shared similar riff and feel. We then met the only song sung by Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica, duet with Rob Rock. The chorus is typical Stratovarius and one of memorable point in this album. The chorus finished with a closing sentence just like another RR song, Last Night on Earth.

Shine, is like a new section on the album. Introducing Sharon den Adel to the board, this yet another power gothic to bear. Elize is join. For trivia, this album perhaps the second official Timo Tolkki full scale works with female singers, just before it he done it in Saana project. Two songs, The Magic of the Night and To The Edge of the Earth sung by Rob Rock resembling close each other. A Revolutions Renaissance's trace in both songs, but Rob Rock powerful voices also deviated the songs to others feel. The later song is heaviest in the album with vengeance drumming all the way, same thing to the keyboards solos there. Then we stop again for another last ballad, I'll Sing You Home, the sweetest and softest with both girls singing.
The Land of New Hope will remind you of Helloween's Keeper of Seven Keys with Kiske singing in full new hope by himself. In fact he is the Keeper to the Land of New Hope! Looks like Timo's long sustained notes is best in the throat of Kiske. The eight minutes long song close this part 1 of Avalon trilogy.

Based on the line up himself this should be rated at least nine stars, and yet it duly are. Avalon TLoNH is not same as Timo previous works in Revolution Renaissance and Symfonia. This is surprisingly a rather modern sounds of symphonic power metal works yet come completed with all elements of Stratovarius, Rhapsody of Fire, even Helloween and Within Temptation shared a bit of each. A Metal Opera itself, is not too heavy in term of strict opera concept album. The song writing in TLoNH has hit Timo's best works for some times now. Musicianship are all fantastic, dedicated enough effort to support Timo's idea. Vocal section, no doubt, Elize's character is the most 'aired' and she was good at that. So this distance Avalon to Tobias Sammet's Avantasia as well. With all mean, this is recommended album to all power metal fans.

Metal Harem class: ********* nine stars out of ten

Timo Tolkki's Avalon - A Metal Opera - The Land of New Hope (2013)
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1. "Avalanche Anthem" Russell Allen, Rob Rock, Elize Ryd - 4:52
2. "A World Without Us" Elize Ryd, Russell Allen, Rob Rock - 5:42
3. "Enshrined in My Memory" Elize Ryd - 4:05
4. "In the Name of the Rose" Elize Ryd, Russell Allen - 4:26
5. "We Will Find a Way" Rob Rock, Tony Kakko - 4:24
6. "Shine" Elize Ryd, Sharon den Adel - 3:36
7. "The Magic of the Night" Rob Rock - 4:42
8. "To the Edge of the Earth" Rob Rock - 5:01
9. "I’ll Sing You Home" Elize Ryd, Sharon den Adel - 5:01
10. "The Land of New Hope" Michael Kiske - 8:53

Personnel
Timo Tolkki - Guitar, Bass Guitar & Producer
Alex Holzwarth (Rhapsody Of Fire) - Drums
Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) - Keyboards
Jens Johansson (Stratovarius) - Keyboards
Mikko Härkin (Luca Turilli's Rhapsody) - Keyboards

Guests Singers
Elize Ryd (Amaranthe)
Michael Kiske (Unisonic, ex-Helloween)
Russell Allen (Symphony X, Allen-Lande, Adrenaline Mob)
Rob Rock (Impellitteri, ex-Axel Rudi Pell)
Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation)
Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica)

Additional cast
Orchestrations: Sami Boman
Opera vocals: Magdalena Lee

Timo Tolkki's Avalon, power metal supergroup The Land of New Hope review

Animetal USA - W - 2012

A combination of metal and Japanese anime? You bet that already has a long history on it. Japan culture is colonialism through Asia and went far to USA. For a mutual retaliation, USA export the music, included heavy metal to the rising sun islanders. The Animetal USA is direct tribute to Animetal Japan, band that specialist cover anime song into metal version. If you fans of anime, tokusatsu and other Japan craziness, Animetal is part of collectibles you should already aware. Just a tribute is not enough, forming the Animetal USA is none other than Chris Impellitteri , Mike Vescera and supported by Rudy Sarzo and Jon Dette (Testament, Slayer etc.). For Impellitteri, he is/was part of western shredder that linked very much to Japan fans. Same as Chris is Marty Friedman who was also part of Animetal doing the arrangements. For Mike Vescera, his years with Loudness should exposed him enough background knowledge on the materials. Both name is a good choice to aims both Japanese fans and non-Anime fans.

For all of the songs, the background knowledge is necessary for fully enjoy it. The songs that made the most interest to me is the anime / tokusatsu that I really familiar, to their original openings and soundtrack. Kamen Rider and Goranger in track 3 Hero Medley is completely killer. Goranger is the first Super Sentai show starting late '70s,. To get the picture of Goranger, it is a rainbow colors super hero team that literally franchised to USA in a name of Power Ranger, starting in early '90s. Dragon Ball Medley is part of teenage-hood memory. Then the real good stuff, that the original version also totally killing by Animetal, is Magic Knight Rayearth OP. Girl's Anime Medley is a fun part, considering how girly the material is for, but Mike Vescera singing Sailor Moon theme is totally awesome. Then the nostalgic Macross theme is also chilling, the series is part of outer space anime together with Gundam that form a sub-genre in anime. For Gundam, I hope get covered in the next project. For a recent soundtrack is Touch, One Piece and of course Naruto in Rock Lee's character theme.

Chris Impellitteri lead the guitar, together with the bassist and drummer nailed each his riff and solos into first class action of power / heavy metal. The solos in the Hero Medley was really Impellitteri standard of neo classical shred. In fact, Animetal USA is overdone most of the composition, turning them into more western power metal standard. Gone is the addition of brasses, old Japan style pumping bass line and the tenor singing that actually what memorable in the original versions. But again, this is totally awesome project, so much fun to dig in if you are anime literates fans. For non-anime / otaku , you lost half the excitements and the project will only serves you as regular power / heavy metal album. Specific market for Animetal USA but I bet the crowd are enough to make this project keep going.

Metalharem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Animetal USA - W - 2012
buy it here at Amazon

01. Touch (Touch OP)
02. CAT’S EYE” (Cat’s Eye OP)
03.Hero Medley
~Devilman no Uta (Devilman OP)
~Let’s go Rider Kick (Kamen Rider OP)
~Tatakae! Kamen Rider V3 (Kamen Rider V3 OP)
~Himitsu Sentai Goranger (Himitsu Sentai Goranger ED)
~Ultra Seven no Uta (Ultra Seven OP)
04. “Dragon Ball Medley”
~CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA (Dragon Ball Z 1st OP)
~WE GOTTA POWER (Dragon Ball Z 2nd OP)
05. Galaxy Express 999″(Galaxy Express 999 Theme Song)
06. We Are! (ONE PIECE 1st OP)
07. Yuzurenai Negai (Magic Knight Rayearth OP)
08. Girl’s Anime Medley”
~Moonlight Densetsu (Sailor Moon OP)
~Cutie Honey(Cutie Honey OP)
~Attack No. 1 theme (Attack No. 1 OP)
~Himitsu no Akko-chan (Himitsu no Akko-chan OP)
~Mahoutsukai Sally (Mahoutsukai Sally OP)
09. Ai Oboeteimasuka / Do You Remember Love?
~(Macross: Do You Remember Love Theme Song)
10. JAM Project Medley (~VANGUARD~MAX ON~SKILL)
11. Give Lee Give Lee Rock Lee (NARUTO Spin-Off: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals OP)

Metal-Rider (Mike Vescera) - Vocals
Speed King (Chris Impellitteri) - Guitar
Storm Bringer (Rudy Sarzo) - Bass
Tank (Jon Dette) - Drums

Kill Devil Hill - Kill Devil Hill 2012

Vinnie Appice, drummer of Black Sabbath fame come out again with a new project. Team up with Pantera bassist Rex Brown, Mark Zavon previously in W.A.S.P. and singer Dewey Bragg. This semi supergroup status put out quite excellent self title debut album, Kill Devil Hill.

The genre in this album is a combination of groove metal, grunge, and perhaps nil recognized Black Sabbath sounds. First song War Machine is fresh groove metal feel with a sleek and grunge vocal instead of growling. Other song with very original song writing is Voodoo Doll and a heavy groovy Rise from the Shadows. It's good to see bass line get more highlight here as many song are focus in lower frequency pleasure. We're Are Gonna Die is the example here. Strange is however more hard rock and show nice guitar work put in front. Beside Mysterious Ways which is a ballad, all other tracks are showing pleasure hearing groove metal. The singer perform really well I think, give in a grunge feel and handle the low pitch nicely.

If you like fresh grunge mix with groove metal here is the correct album. If you also missed Pantera you might expect some Dimebag tribute in Mark Zavon riff. Not a bad output for this all forty aged guys.

Metal Harem class: ******* 7 stars out of 10

Kill Devil Hill 2012
buy it here

01. War Machine
02. Hangman
03. Voodoo Doll
04. Gates Of Hell
05. Rise From The Shadows
06. We're All Gonna Die
07. Strange
08. Time & Time Again
09. Old Man
10. Mysterious Ways
11. Up In Flames
12. Revenge


Dewey Bragg - vocals
Mark Zavon - guitar
Rex Brown - bass
Vinny Appice - drums

Produced by Warren Riker.    


dark theme cover album art for Kill Devil Hill

Phenomena - Awakening (2012)

This time a supergroup from UK, already for formed from earlier '80 by a metal record producer Tom Galley. Each time Tom gathered high profile musicians from UK and nearby Europe to performed his composition. Phenomena produced several album in span of  '80 to '90 and the idea preserved until today. So here the latest offer from this supergroup. Despite its artistic cover album looks like a power metal tune but Awakening is simple an AOR album full of melodious traditional hard rock.

The first tracks defined the mood with its blistering anthemic drum intro. Tom Galley choose Lee Small, singer from SHY to performed this track called Smash It Up. Let's Smash It Up is the seller main chorus here, a great AOR tune to open the album. Soon we are into the album, catchy song recommended here are Gotta Move, Shake, and Fighter, these are thick in blues mood. Then there anomaly as Stand Up For Love is a lovely gospel chorus rock. On first listening the whole album somehow come into a pattern of great intro but the song writing sometimes didn't catch up. Going Away is the example here, the song is just somehow too generic. It is Ralf Scheepers from Primal Fear that performed this track. How Long is a great tune combining thick blues vocal.

All musician here performed well, the solo guitars are best in raising the mood and drumming also. Although with its many differ background, the album can be done in more diverse style rather than just blues rock. In other thought this is a best outlet to see how your favorite musician from other band performing this kind of music. But, Awakening is an album best to listen without higher expectation. It's simply a work of several artist with intention to give the best shoot in AOR atmosphere.

Metal Harem class: ******* 7 stars out of 10

Tom Galley's Phenomena - Awakening 2012
buy it here

01. Smash It Up (Lee Small on Vocals, Mat Sinner on Bass, Magnus Karlsson on Lead Guitars)
02. Reality (Toby Hitchcock on Vocals and Mike Slamer on Lead Guitars)
03. Homeland (Rob Moratti on Vocals and Martin Kronlund on all Guitars)
04. Going Away (James Christian Vocals and Tommy Denander Martin Kronlund on Guitars)
05. Gotta Move (Ralf Scheepers on Vocals and Christian Wolff & Tommy Denander on Guitars)
06. How Long (Lee Small on Vocals and Martin Kronlund on Guitars)
07. Shake (Mike DiMeo on Vocal and Martin Kronlund on Guitars)
08. Fighter (Terry Brock on Vocals and Steve Newman on Guitars)
09. Dancing Days (Niklas Swedentorp on Lead Vocals with all Coldspell members)
10. If You Believe (Chris Antblad with Gothenburg Choir)


Martin Kronlund: Guitars, and Bass
Tom Harlan: Guitars & Keyboards
Imre Daun: Drums.
Henrik Thomsen: bass
Per Aronson-Andersson: Hammond, keyboards
JAVA Gospel on "Stand up for love"

Additional Musicians:
Carl Anthony Wright - Guitars
Christian Wolff - Guitars
Tommy Denander - Guitars
Mike Slamer Guitars
Magnus Karlsson - Guitars
Mat Sinner - Bass
All COLDSPELL members
Steve Newman - Guitars and backing vocals
Fredrik Bergh - Keyboards on "Smash It Up" And "Gotta Move"

Phenomena Album Cover design with fantasy art theme

Flying Colors 2012 - Mike Portnoy, Steve Morse

Here is another supergroup involving Mike Portnoy. For those who have complaint about Mike's latest project in Adrenalin Mob, here's more interesting situation we got. Mike team up with Steve Morse , Dave LaRue, Neal Morse, and Casey McPherson (Alpha Red) as singer. Of course this is not a heavy metal band as in Adrenalin Mob and by members, this is a old school prog band, but no they not, this album are more modern sound than you think. This is da real ultra supergroup.

Dave LaRue started their jamming on track Blue Ocean, quickly join by other. Elements of each personality are well preserves here. Steve Morse are still with his chromatic picking approach melody. Neal Morse pop-gospel-rock groove keyboard and backing vocal  are there. Mike Portnoy easily remind us to some of his chops in Dream Theater. The singer expressive falsetto are the one uniting the music. The second song Shoulda Coulda Woulda is slightly heavier in modern rock vibe. For those who curious to see if Steve Morse capable to doing more metal works, the song All Falls Down is there. Love is What I'm Waiting For is another light pop turn into great improvisation stuff. For those who seeking solo and solo ala Dream Theater, check All Falls Down and Infinite Fire

According to some reading on net, the album is only recorded in nine days in 2011. So, this is actually a very much jamming piece that finalized into a song. Pretty much sum up how capable these gentlemen can do in their musical proficiency. Flying Colors is basically a great prog album, slightly light than the usual progressive stuff. But the point here is the composition, they are not overdone it yet very much glue you down, even on first listening.

Metal Harem class: ********* 9 stars out of 10

Flying Colors 2012
buy it here

1. Blue Ocean
2. Shoulda Coulda Woulda
3. Kayla
4. The Storm
5. Forever In A Daze
6. Love Is What I'm Waiting For
7. Everything Changes
8. Better Than Walking Away
9. All Falls Down
10. Fool In My Heart
11. Infinite Fire

Mike Portnoy (ex Dream Theater, drums)
Steve Morse (Deep Purple, guitars)
Neal Morse (keyboard, solo)
Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs, bass)
Casey McPherson (Alpha Red, vocals)

Flying Colors band photograph and album cover

Unisonic - Unisonic 2012

This is a continuing collaboration supergroup between Michael Kiske and the Pink Cream 69 crews, to be precise Dennis Ward on bass and Kosta Zafiriou on drum. They were in a side project band called Place Vendome before. What make it different now is additional of guitarist Mandy Meyer (ex Krokus) and .... Kai Hansen. The genre of the band is again AOR type quite similar to Place Vendome. Additional of Kai Hansen do little in bringing back a power metal tune, instead Kai blend nicely into this melodic rock style. This is their first full length album because previously an EP had been released.

First song, Unisonic rise me little fear because Michael Kiske is, in my image, more a melancholy singer than a wild and "happy" rocker. So the chorus "Unison-ic!" is a little weird to me with Kiske. The second song is back on track with Kiske's Souls Alive. Recommended tracks are  Never Changed Me , King For A Day and I've Tried. There is no Helloween trace except a memory on Chameleon here, so fans of Hansen and Kiske expecting this feature should be retreat here. A solid melodious AOR album here.

Metal Harem class: ******* 7 stars out of 10

Unisonic - Unisonic 2012
buy it here

01. Unisonic
02. Souls Alive
03. Never Too Late
04. I've Tried
05. Star Rider
06. Never Change Me
07. Renegade
08. My Sanctuary
09. King For A Day
10. We Rise
11. No One Ever Sees Me
12. Over The Rainbow [bonus] [limited edition]



Line-up
Michael Kiske - vocals, guitar
Kai Hansen - guitars
Mandy Meyer - guitars
Kosta Zafiriou - drums
Dennis Ward - bass








Unisonic graphical art design