"Undone" is the third album from Zen Rock And Roll, the solo project of multi-instrumentalist and part-time musician Jonathan Saunders, who supports his music with a daytime job as a software engineer.
Saunders has a lengthy musical background, although much of it consists of playing in a variety of Top-40 and cover bands, including a Led Zeppelin tribute band that spent much of the late nineties touring the United States.
Since then, Saunders abandoned the touring life following this experience, preferring to focus on solo efforts in his own home studio in Tennessee, and releasing the material under the pseudonym Zen Rock And Roll.
Jonathan Saunders is a classic prog devotee, his music is steeped heavily in keyboards and mellotron, with complex arrangements and layers of percussion and digital sound effects.
But on this new album, he is exploring his more commercial side.
"Undone" has early light sympho Prog elements for sure, but a strong Melodic Rock essence blended with American Classic Rock. At times it reminds of Yes merged with Styx, a little Queen here, a bit of Ambrosia there, even some more obscure favorites like City Boy or Gentle Giant.
Saunders has a voice that sounds close to Dennis De Young of Styx and some on the music on this album brings back memories of early Styx albums without the power of a strong group supporting.
The music is definitely keyboard driven like early Styx, and the vocal harmony helps to re-enforce the similarities.
"All In The Dark" offers an interesting vocal arrangement and some odd keyboards, with some late seventies AOR touches.
"At The First Glance" is more up tempo, it has some retro prog sounds but also a vintage melodic rock feel with similarities to City Boy, particularly on the vocals.
Title track "Undone" has a light melody, somehow like Genesis meets Journey without the heavy guitars. Interesting.
"Antiquated Love Song" is one of the tracks on the album that truly captures the early Styx sound, mixed with an early Queen piano-songs influence as well. The addition of a flute gives this song a magical touch. Truly a great tune.
On "Concerto For The Original Sinners" is where Jonathan embarks himself into pure prog. This is a cinematic composition, full of wonderful keyboards and dramatic movements. Also has great Mellotron getting in, it then does a bit of a turnaround after seven minutes and drives a pulsating electronic beat when suddenly the synthesizers wash over you in symphonic glory at the end of its almost 15 minutes. Electrifying experience.
"Undone" offers really good moments of music, from light prog, sometimes symphonic, blended with retro melodic rock, and some really vocal arrangements.
There's also some food for the most pure progressive listeners on the long (and interesting) instrumental suite.
Zen Rock and Roll it's one man project but you almost cannot recognize the 'one-man-ism' here, as all sounds really integral and well played / mixed.
Creative and captivating, "Undone" is a disc that anyone with musical curiosity will want to hear.
Nice.
1. All In The Dark (4:16)
2. At the First Glance (6:03)
3. Undone (3:30)
4. Antiquated Love Song (4:19)
5. Strange (4:15)
6. Concerto for the Original Sinners (14:41)
7. Lament (2:14)
Finnish metal/hard rock outfit Amoral has completed work on it’s 5th studio album. “Beneath” was recorded at Sound Supreme studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland, and was produced by Janne Saksa and guitarist Ben Varon. The album will be released in late 2011, with the first single out by the beginning of summer.
“I’d describe the album as ‘three steps forward, one step back’”, says Varon. “There are several nods to our past in form of long songs, intricate riffs and growling vocals. But the main focus is still on the strong melodies, big choruses and catchy riffs, just as was on our last album ‘Show Your Colors’”.
“Beneath” marks the first time new guitarist Masi Hukari has recorded with the band. Hukari – who joined the group late in the songwriting process – immediately wrote two songs together with Varon, both which ended on the album. Another first is that, from now on, Amoral has two lead guitar players.
“Masi is such a talent, it would have been a crime to make him ‘just’ the rhythm guitarist. It’s been killer to be able to do lead trade-off for the first time in the band’s history, for example. Masi is responsible for many of the guitar highlights of the album”, Ben declares.
The band documented the recording of “Beneath” in their studio blog, which was updated daily during the session. You can read the blog here:http://amoralinthestudio.blogspot.com/
Amoral will end their months-long break from playing live by doing a one-off show at On The Rocks in Helsinki on June 3rd. The idea is to break in the new guitarist, as well as trying out several brand new songs onstage for the first time. Check out a trailer for the show here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSPAcwyOg..Po
01. Beneath (8:46)
02. Wrapped in Barbwire (3:02)
03. Silhouette (3:59)
04. Things Left Unsaid (4:59)
05. (Won't Go) Home (4:22)
06. Closure (5:38)
07. Same Difference (4:39)
08. Hours of Simplicity (3:47)
09. Wastelands (3:39)
10. This Ever Ending Game (3:56)
11. No Future (4:00)
12. Of Silent Stares & Fire Lost (7:07)
One of the discs have been associated with the greatest expectations of this country recently (within the progressive genre at least) has undoubtedly been the most anticipated and difficult third album Magic Pie. The nation's premier symfoband has so far delivered two strong studio albums in the form of Motions of Desire (2005) and Circus of Life (2007), and it is not without reason that the band's fans have been excited for well over three years. Can østfoldingene to deliver the goods once again?
It's probably little doubt that Magic Pie has been one of the very few symphonic prog bands that can be said to have a særledes international flavor to it. Where all too many others go in pitfall that Traurig copy band, Magic Pie not only developed a distinctive and euphonious sound, they are melodic flair and outstanding musical skills, both individually and as a group.
New since last time is that the lead singer Allan Olsen has left the band, and that the new more metal-trained Eiríkur Hauksson has taken over the space behind the microphone. This has made the Magic Pie slightly heavier and rougher around the edges of the Suffering Joy than it has been used to in the past. Where previously the music was close to bands like The Flower Kings, Galleon and Unitopia, the current edition of the band as a distinct approach to Dream Theater or Shadow Gallery. The result is nevertheless a typical Magic Pie-release, steeped in their sound and their songs.
The first half of the album consists of the suite "A Life's Work", this is divided into four tracks ranging from roughly minutes to well over quarter. This epic song sets the standard for the album, and delivers from the moment of good "hooks" and impressive instrumentation. "Headlines" and "Endless Ocean" continues ballet, and here it is first and foremost, the great harmonic vocals that make their mark. Personally, I feel Hauksson voice fits the band better than its predecessor, and once more in the band also contributes to the vocal sound is rich and good. "Slightly Mad" stands for disc heaviest and most pace-filled contributions, with it you can only dream of tempo changes, mood swings and technical instrumental parts. "Tired" is the intro along with the suite is the most typical Magic Pie 'song on this album, with classic symfogrep, beautiful guitar lines and a very melodic approach. The whole is rounded off with "In Memoriam", a bleak and dark song where the band clearly appears from a new, not to mention becoming, page. In essence, this is the most diverse album the Norwegians have made so far.
Sometimes it is hard to limit yourself when to go through such a release. There is much to write about Magic Pie, about this publication and about each song on the album. But the line must be somewhere, and for my part is the line to tell the wait is over, Magic Pie has probably delivered one of the best (yes, even though we've only got until March!) Norwegian releases, and The Suffering Joy will probably end up on the top list of symphonic prog slices for all progressive journals and web sites when the year will be rounded off. In other words, SMASHING!
En av skivene det har blitt knyttet størst forventninger til her til lands den siste tiden (innenfor den progressive sjangeren i hvert fall) har utvilsomt vært den etterlengtede og vanskelige tredjeskiva til Magic Pie. Nasjonens fremste symfoband har hittil levert to sterke studioalbum i form av Motions of Desire (2005) og Cirkus of Life (2007), og det er ikke uten grunn at bandets fans har sittet forventningsfulle i godt over tre år. Klarer østfoldingene å levere varene nok en gang?
Det er vel lite tvil om at Magic Pie har vært et av landets ytterst få symfoniske progband som kan sies å ha et særledes internasjonalt snitt over seg. Der hvor så alt for mange andre går i fallgruven som traurige kopiband, har Magic Pie ikke bare utviklet et særegent og velklingende sound, de viser også melodisk teft og fremragende musikalske ferdigheter, både individuelt og som gruppe.
Nytt siden sist er det at vokalist Allan Olsen har forlatt bandet, og at den nye mer metall-skolerte Eiríkur Hauksson har tatt over plassen bak mikrofonen. Dette har gjort Magic Pie noe tyngre og røffere i kantene på The Suffering Joy enn man har vært vant med fra tidligere. Der hvor musikken tidligere lå nærme band som The Flower Kings, Galleon og Unitopia, gir dagens utgave av bandet en like tydelig tilnærming til Dream Theater eller Shadow Gallery. Resultatet er uansett en typisk Magic Pie-utgivelse, gjennomsyret av deres sound og deres melodier.
Første halvdel av skiva består av suiten «A Life's Work», denne er inndelt i fire spor som strekker seg fra drøye minuttet til godt over kvarteret. Denne episke låten setter standarden for skiva, og leverer fra første øyeblikk gode "hooks" og imponerende instrumentering. «Headlines» og «Endless Ocean» fortsetter ballet, og her er det først og fremst den flotte harmoniske vokalen som setter sitt preg. Personlig føler jeg Haukssons stemme passer dette bandet enda bedre enn forgjengerens, og når flere i bandets også bidrar til det vokale blir lyden fyldig og god. «Slightly Mad» står for skivas tyngste og mest tempofylte bidrag, med det du bare kan drømme om av taktskifter, humørsvingninger og tekniske instrumentalpartier. «Tired» er sammen med introsuiten den mest typiske Magic Pie-låten på denne skiva, med klassiske symfogrep, vakre gitarlinjer og en svært melodisk tilnærming. Det hele rundes av med «In Memoriam», en dyster og mørk låt hvor bandet helt klart viser seg fra en ny, og ikke minst kledelig, side. I bunn og grunn er dette den mest varierte skiva nordmennene har laget hittil.
Av og til er det vanskelig å begrense seg når man skal gå gjennom en slik utgivelse. Det er mye å skrive om Magic Pie, om denne utgivelsen og om hver enkelt låt på skiva. Men streken må settes et sted, og for mitt vedkommende settes den streken med å fortelle at ventetiden er over, Magic Pie har trolig levert en av årets beste (ja, selv om vi bare har kommet til mars!) norske utgivelser, og The Suffering Joy vil trolig ende opp på topplisten over symfoniske progskiver for samtlige progressive tidsskrifter og nettsteder når året skal rundes av. Med andre ord; KNALL!
01. A Life's Work (Part I) — Questions Unanswered (1:16)
02. A Life's Work (Part II) — Overture (3:32)
03. A Life's Work (Part III) — A Brand New Day (2:28)
04. A Life's Work (Part IV) — The Suffering Joy (17:09)
05. Headlines (9:29)
06. Endless Ocean (3:11)
07. Slightly Mad (9:48)
08. Tired (15:21)
09. In Memoriam (8:39)
1 The Forthcoming (Intro) 0:26
2 Devils Eyes 3:46
3 Revenge For Blood 3:59
4 Kiss The Sword 3:28
5 Facing The Enemy 5:43
6 New Era 4:12
7 Chasing The Dragon 4:06
8 Stay Away 3:05
9 Deaddly Scroll 5:10
10 Digital War 5:14
11 Bang Your Head 4:23
ürgen Blackmore was born in London in 1964 as the son of guitar virtuoso Ritchie Blackmore and his German wife, Margit.
Raised in Hamburg, Jürgen received his first acoustic guitar at the age of 10, and with the encouragement of his mother, the little player knew early on that he would have a career in music.
After his own band 1990's debut 'Still Holding On' and an instrumental album, he was involved in several projects / bands, being the most recent last year's 'EBC Roxx' in collaboration with female singer ELA and the legendary Tony Carey, recording the CD called ‘Winners’.
In 2011 Jürgen started his own record and publishing company, to release his really first integral album; "Voices".
Entirely written by him, and with a tight band assembled with renowned musicians, Blackmore called the best melodic hard rock vocalists from Germany such as Oliver Hartmann, Michael Bormann, ELA, Dave Esser and more.
The oriental-style "Voices" opens the album with a mystical-sounding intro, and then develops into a classic hard rocker quite similar to earlier Rainbow. Singer Mark Engelstädter fits perfectly with a vocal tone resembling Swedish Mats Leven. Jürgen R. Blackmore has noticeably evolved with the 6 strings, palpable on his melodic and accurate legato phrases throughout the disc.
Follower "Guardian Angel" has a much more commercial approach, featuring one of the best singers recently appeared in Germany, the Rüsselsheim-born Oliver Hartmann.
"Beethoven" has an epic and (obviously) neo-classical structure, but Jürgen never lets the music go too heavy. Here comes the first surprise of the album; the lead vocals are at charge of Michael Bormann (Jaded Heart), singing in a style never heard from this melodic frontman. I am not completely convinced if it works or not...
"Destructive Mania" has the female vocals of the (unknown to me) Catherine Jauer, a more than interesting singer with powerful and articulated vocalizations.
On "Incomplete" Michael Bormann returns to the mic, and now yes, his melodic vocals appear and really fits this song, a very nice semi-slow melodic ballad with an inventive guitar work by Jurgen and a swirling keyboard solo. Sadly, to my ears, this track deserved a better mix.
Dave Esser does a good job on "Jeckyl & Hyde", imposting his deep and low tone on this good (although a bit generic) rocker, while ELA sings the dark "Nanshu" in a semi-symphonic style adding some variation.
For "Victorious", Engelstädter was again a right choice (he sounds as Mark Boals in places).
As bonus, last track "Dreams" is a fine instrumental piece taken from Jurgen's 'Between Darkness And Light' solo album.
J.R. Blackmore has released his more complete and consistent CD to date with "Voices".
Jürgen playing and songwriting has his father's genes not being necessarily a clone, but Ritchie's influence is undeniable, as well as Uli J. Roth, Steve Morse and many other classic guitarists.
As all albums featuring such diverse vocalists, some tracks work better than others, you need somehow a magic touch to choose the right singer for each track.
On "Voices", the result is successful for the most part, being specially Mark Engelstädter a revelation to me.
Nice and Classic Hard Rock melodies abound on "Voices", a correctly produced album (apparently only to be released in Germany) that worth to investigate.
1. Voices (ft. Markus Engelstädter)
2. Guardian Angel (ft. Oliver Hartmann)
3. Beethoven (ft. Michael Bormann)
4. Destructive Mania (ft. Cathrine Jauer)
5. Incomplete (ft. Michael Bormann)
6. Devil in Disguise (ft. Oliver Hartmann)
7. Jeckyll & Hyde (ft. Dave Esser)
8. Victorious (ft. Markus Engelstädter)
9. Nanshu (ft. ELA & Dave Esser)
10. We Are Rock´n Roll (ft. Dave Esser)
11. Dreams (Bonus Track - instrumental)
J.R. Blackmore: Guitars
Paul Morris (Doro, Rainbow): Keyboards
Danny Miranda (Queen, Meat Loaf): Bass
Charly Zeleny (D-I-O-N): Drums
Vocals:
Markus Engelstädter (Flash Queen coverband, musicals): 1 / 8
Oliver Hartmann (Avantasia, At Vance, Solo): 2 / 6
Michael Bormann (Jaded Heart): 3 / 5
Cathrine Jauer (First Child, Cat): 4
ELA (Ela Rocks, EBC Roxx): 9
Dave Esser (OpusDavi, Schattenspieler): 7 / 10
1. Sudden Death (5:09)
2. Public Enemy No. 1 (4:15)
3. Whose Life (Is It Anyways?) (3:50)
4. We the People (4:33)
5. Guns, Drugs & Money (4:19)
6. Never Dead (4:32)
7. New World Order (3:56)
8. Fast Lane (4:04)
9. Black Swan (4:10)
10. Wrecker (3:51)
11. Millennium of the Blind (4:15)
12. Deadly Nightshade (4:55)
13. 13 (5:49)
Oct 19, 2011 13:01
Hard Rock Heavy Metal |Power Metal
Great Glam Hard Heave Rock From USA
01. In The Future
02. Supersonic Sex Machine
03. Just Like Tiger Woods
04. 17 Girls In A Row
05. If You Really, Really Love Me
06. It Won't Suck Itself
07. Tomorrow Night
08. Why Can't You Trust Me
09. That's What Girls Are For
10. Gold-Digging Whore
11. I Like Drugs
12. Critter
13. Let Me Cum In
14. Weenie Ride
1. Barbed Wire Metal 03:45
2. The Devil's Servants 04:00
3. Elm St's Children 05:41
4. Heavy Metal Power 05:43
5. King of Kings 04:50
6. Leatherface 05:06
7. Merciless Soldier 03:55
8. Metal is the Way 06:15
