As all of you may know, there was a New Wave of Swedish Heavy Metal in Scandinavia at the beginning of the’80s, inspired by the seminal British movement NWoHM. 220 Volt, Heavy Load, Overdrive, even Europe were part of it at the tail of its explosion – add MADISON to it.
Musically adding a mix of classic hard rock to the band’s melodic metal roots, MADISON is best known as the first professional band of awesome singer Goran Edman. We already featured some time ago the band’s second and final album reissued & remastered.
A reader asked if MADISON 1984’s debut album “Diamond Mistress” has been remastered as well. The answer is no – but this Japanese CD reissue has been much better transferred to digital than the initial flat CD pressings. This ”Diamond Mistress [Japanese CD reissue]” is the third reissue of this album done in Japan in the 2000’s, and believe us, sound dynamics are very good.
The band’s style is typical of mid-80s Scandi hard rock / melodic heavy metal, think of Europe‘s first two albums and Edman’s distinctive voice to get an idea. However this first effort ”Diamond Mistress” is heavier than their second LP.
Guitarist Dan Stomberg is the band’s main songwriter influenced, as said, by the British scene. The songs are classic melodic metal, riff-driven with clean guitars and a punchy rhythm section, some keyboards to create atmosphere and catchy choruses. Edman soars all over of course. His soulful highs are electrifying and dramatic, able to inject even some of the more commercial-minded songs with golden authenticity.
A good example of this is ‘Pictures Return’, an acoustic ballad that follows a similar blueprint to Fifth Angel’s ‘Fade to Flames’ or Styx’s ‘Suite Madame Blue’. ‘Don’t Go’ feature some of the most impressive vocals on the whole record, perhaps the most commercial and catchy cut too.
Elsewhere, the band flexes its muscles and belts out rapidfire drumming and fretwork. The title track kills, while the album’s opener ‘Lay Down Your Arms’ showcases a sensational Friedman-esque guitar solo.
In addition to first-class vocals and fretwork, ”Diamond Mistress” had a fantastic grasp on the importance of exciting, engaging song structures. Even the slower compositions like ‘Changes’ are easily kept afloat by dynamic harmonies and imaginative chord progressions.
The same applies to the saucy gallops of ‘Don’t Look Around’, which ends up sounding remarkably similar to the material found in Fifth Angel’s Time Will Tell, with epic crescendo.
The recording of “Diamond Mistress” was on a budget and suffers from some kind of a primitive mix, but heck, the songs are great and performances top notch. As said this ”Diamond Mistress [Japanese CD reissue]” has a much better output than the original CD pressings, and it’s the one to obtain if you find it at a decent price.
HIGHLY Recommended
Tracklist:
1. Lay Down Your Arms
2. Run Boy
3. Sneaker
4. Don't Look Around
5. Pictures Return
6. Diamond Mistress
7. Don't Go
8. Squealer
9. Changes
10. Turn Me Loose
Band:
Goran Edman - vocals
Anders Kalsson - guitars/backing vocals
Mikael Myllynen - guitars
Conny Sunqvist - bass/backing vocals
Peter Fredrickson - drums/backing vocals
Download:
Madison – Diamond Mistress (1986) [Japan Press] Lossless+MP3
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