Showing posts with label 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010. Show all posts

Friday, 6 April 2012

ALBUM REVIEW: ACCEPT - STALINGRAD


Comeback albums are often like middle-aged men getting new Porsches. It may have seemed like this when Accept got together with vocalist Mark Tornillo for 2010’s 'Blood Of The Nations', a potent record that won rave reviews. The German metal band’s latest, 'Stalingrad' is taking that comeback and running with it. From the chugging guitars and sky-splitting vocals of opener 'Hung Drawn And Quartered' to the doom-laden riffs of the title track and the smouldering menace of 'Twist Of Fate', this album successfully builds on the gargantuan superstructure of its predecessor. True peace comes on the battlefield when each side has fought a worthy battle that both can respect. This is the spirit that this record breathes and the reason why it will be as big a hit in Russia as it is in Germany, the two nations whose titanic struggle inspired its epic theme!

Colin Liddell



Friday, 23 April 2010

ALBUM REVIEW: ASIA - OMEGA


Following on from 2008's celebrated comeback 'reunion' album 'Phoenix', legendary British Progressive Rock supergroup Asia have again served up another stunning collection of concise mature rock classics. From the rocky, strident opening entrées of 'Finger On The Trigger', 'Through My Veins' and 'Holy War', to the clever wistful John Wetton inspired Beatle-esque balladry of 'End Of The World' and 'Don't Wanna Lose You Now', 'Omega' is crammed with exquisitely performed, accessible, melodic, anthemic songs luxuriating in a bed of lush orchestration, with lyrics that strike a sympathetic chord in even the most cynical of hearts. Again spawning trademark cover art specifically designed by acclaimed artist Roger Dean 'Omega' marks a new renaissance and joie-de-vivre for the veteran Asia - in the year of the tiger too!

Mark Crampton