Kiske/Somerville's City Of Heroes-By Shawn "Animalize" Irwin

Kiske/Somerville - City Of Heroes 2015

The long awaited second project from Kiske/Somerville, titled City of Heroes will finally be released April 17 (in Europe) and April 21 (in North America). This new release brings us 12 new songs.

As a big fan of Amanda Somerville's work with Avantasia, and Michael Kiske's Place Vendome, and Unisonic, I am really excited to hear these two talented artists work together again. Joining them on this new release are Magnus Karlsson from Sweden on guitar and on bass is Matt Sinner of the band Sinner, Primal Fear, and Voodoo Circle. On drums, we have someone new to me, the much talented Veronika Lukesova. Matt Sinner and Jacob Hansen both produced this long awaited release.

1. "City Of Heroes" -  The first single and video which starts the cd with a bang! Kiske starts out the song with Somerville flowing seamlessly with this duet team. The drums stand out perfectly and the guitar work of Karlsson makes this a memorable piece of music. A very catchy tune that has me singing along.

2. "Walk On Water" - This is the second single and video which is like most songs on the CD, catchy and easy to sing along with in the chorus. More mellow than the first single but well orchestrated with a short but sweet guitar solo to tie it all together. Overall a remarkable song which showcases the musicality and synchronicity of these two vocalists.

3. "Rising Up" - With a little more keyboard standing out from the chorus, it just makes you want to crank it up and sing along with the vocal talents of Somerville. A little more guitar gives a heavier edge and saves it from sounding more like a pop song. Like most of the other songs, the lyrics flow with the melodic tempo of this song.

4. "Salvation" - The longest track on the CD but a story that has me wanting more. The first minute without vocals just builds up until Kiske starts singing and Somerville continues it up right into the powerful chorus. Some heavier riffs from Karlsson which suits me perfectly as I love his work.

5. "Lights Out" - Another chorus that gets you singing with Somerville's vocals that all just flows together. Karlsson shines again with his work on the guitar.

6. "Breaking Neptune" - This is the only song not written by Sinner and Karlsson.

Amanda Somerville and Sander Gommans co-wrote this track. Somerville's voice is just magic on this track and shows why these two work so well together.

7. "Ocean Of Tears" - The slowest song on the CD which may outshine all of these great songs. This song truly shows what these two can do as they beautifully step up their vocals together. I normally like the heavier styles Kiske does, but this is a masterpiece of songwriting, musicality and vocals that make this connection such a wonderful piece to listen to.

8. "Open Your Eyes" - I found this switching to more progressive with a faster sound.  Somerville's voice is smooth as silk as Kiske joins in for more of a rocking heavier edge. Put that all together with the talents of each band member and sounding different than the other songs on this CD which I found makes it a pleasant surprise.

9. "Last Goodbye" - Kiske starts this track again with an even heavier sound. Sure makes me hope this is really not the "Last Goodbye" from these two artists and this band. The band is synced very well and keeping the CD in the roots of a great rock release.

  

10. "After The Night Is Over" - The second slow song on this release I had to listen to it a few times and found it to be a story that you feel you are a part of, and when it finishes, you realize how a song can get you wrapped up in the music.

11. "Run With A Dream" - With a combination of softer to a heavier sound, this track has everything you have come to expect from this collaboration of musicians. It really inspires you to really run with your dreams.

12 - "Right Now" - Nothing too heavy here - just a nice melodic ending to a great CD. Great solo from Karlsson and with Kiske & Somerville - the voices of two shining stars brings us to a close. A treat to my ears, and hopefully it won't be another 5 years until these two extremely talented artists meet again.

Overall this new release has been well worth the wait and I can't wait to get the actual cd in my hands!

BUY: Kiske/Somerville - City Of Heroes

Kiske Website / Kiske Facebook / Somerville Website / Somerville Facebook

Shawn "Animalize" Irwin

Cranking It Up To Level 10: A Review of Level 10's Chapter One

Mat Sinner is at it yet again and as per usual he's included some of his friends.  The German bassist, probably most recognized from his namesake band Sinner, Primal Fear and Voodoo Circle among several others, has banded together with vocalist Russell Allen (Symphony X/Adrenaline Mob) for this new project entitled Level 10.  The album, Chapter One, features guitarist Roland Grapow (ex-Helloween/Masterplan/Serious Black), guitarist Alex Beyrodt (Voodoo Circle/Primal Fear/Sinner), Canadian drummer Randy Black (ex-Primal Fear) and keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline/Bailey/Voodoo Circle) as the players assembled by Sinner, but it doesn't stop there!  Also contributing with assistance in the songwriting department are Magnus Karlsson (Primal Fear/Allen-Lande), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear/Gamma Ray), Johann Fiegl, Carsten Schulz (Evidence One), Sander Gommans (HDK) and Amanda Sommerville (Kiske-Sommerville/HDK).  The album is set for issue on January 23, 2015 (January 27, 2015 in North America) via Frontiers Records.

My immediate thought was at how aptly named this "supergroup" was, as before we reached 30 seconds into the opening song of "Cry No More" I was already adjusting the volume level in a northerly direction, not quite to level 10 yet though.  Melodic yet loaded with feisty riffs and peppered with solos, "Cry No More" is an awesome song through and through.  "Soul of a Warrior" sits in the second slot and seems to be a bit darker, a song I like more and more with each spin.  "No Turning Back" thunders out of the gate with a pounding/driving beat.  Del Vecchio leads off "One Way Street" with some haunting keyboards before the guitars explode with meaty riffage in this more bluesy flavored cut.  The more symphonic metal sounds that "Blasphemy" lends are not particularly a favorite style of mine.  That being said, this track and lead single is growing on me the more times I digest it.  "Last Man On Earth", the sole track under four minutes runtime, doesn't offer anything overly exciting but does maintain the album's pace.  The energy and volume level ramp up again, this time with the barrage of "Scream & Shout" but the plodding pace of "Voices of the Wilderness" is less than memorable and therefore sinks this one into the bottom of the barrel of Chapter One.  Personally, not being a ballad fan there's nothing for me in "All Hope Is Gone" whatsoever, but the following cut, "Demonized", is quite the opposite!  The track has quickly become one of my currently most played with a chugging main guitar riff, wicked solo, piercing vocals and some pounding double bass drum.  "Soul Is Eternal" once again fires on all cylinders for another strong cut, as is "Forevermore" serving as the twelfth and final inclusion of Chapter One.

With "Cry No More" and "Demonized" being truly fantastic cuts and my top picks for Chapter One, the whole album plays fairly well.  That being said however, if it were shortened to 10 tracks as opposed to the 12, dropping "Voices of the Wilderness" and "All Hope Is Gone" the album would be a total killer for me!  As it is, it's still an early entry in the race for my top albums of 2015!  A Meister score of 8/10.

BUY: Level 10 - Chapter One

Cheers,
The Meister

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(Frontiers Records)