Firebirth by Gotthard First Impressions

First Impression is where I quickly review an album as I listen to it for the first time, so lets crack on with Gotthard's new album 'Firebirth' but first let me set the scene. With the loss of their distinctive and somewhat awesome lead singer Steve Lee in a tragic accident, people questioned what was going to happen to Gotthard a long running band still in their prime. They decided to continue with the new singer Nic Maeder and released 'Remember it's Me' a song that was very well received, their latest single off the album 'Starlight' seemed to me to received with mixed response, particularly in the metal community, so what will their latest album be like? A new sound? Can Nic live up to Steve a so renowned singer?

The album opens with Starlight, a song heavily criticized by the metal community, perhaps due to Gotthard's current label being the stereotypically heavily Nuclear Blast. The song has a Nickle back feel to it, which personally is no bad thing for me. Its not metal but its a good light hearted song that rather catchy, I like it myself!

Then we hit 'Give Me Real' its instantly recognizable as a Gotthard but a more classic Gotthard sound opposed to the later Steve Lee albums. Its not a stand out song but its very satisfactory, its the kind of song that you would feel very contented with if it came up on shuffle but you probably wouldn't pick it.

'Remember its me' a simply brilliant and moving song. One of the stand out songs of last year when it was released. Enough said a great song.

Now we hit a heavier song, 'Fight', again there is no mistaking it's Gotthard. Fight is a pretty good song, easily over a 6/10 but not above a 9/10 'Fight' lacks a special something, a kick to make it a great song but its not disappointing at all. Really grows on you.

'Yippie Aye Yay', Yea yea yippie aye yay! Up beat, rocky and thoroughly enjoyable! 'Lift u Up' kind of feel to it. Strange robotic sound effect in the back ground gives it an interesting feel. All round a strong song.

'Tell me' is a ballad, not a power ballad, just a ballad but a bloody good ballad. This song could easily have been messed up but its well executed.  I really like this one, its also not too long! Well done to Gotthard.

We now leave the ballad behind to 'Shine'.. and shine indeed a great song, a great Gotthard song. That rock sound with a dabble of heavy, catchy reconcilable. Good.

'The Story's Over' well its not at track 8/13 but regardless of that the 'The Story's Over' is hard to fault. Its probably the heaviest song on the album, its once again a good metal song. Nick's voice lacks the punch that a strong metal singer could bring to this but its doesn't feel lacking.

'Right on', Right, I'm writing this as I listen and I retract my previous statement, 'Right On' is a lot heavier than 'The Story's Over'. 'Right On' is a Metal song, its nailed superbly, Nic's vocals are prefect here. Perhaps to appeased some of the doubters they should have released this song. Very good.

'S.O.S' is not a plea for help its the album maintaining the stand it seems to be picking up, 'S.O.S' remains heavy. Again a very Gotthard sounding song, 'S.O.S' is great! Strong drumming, good guitar solo in the middle, , Nick once again does a good job.

'Take it all back' is less heavily that the previous few, returning to a more ballad theme, again its not a knock out song but its a good song. I can't really say more.

'I Can' remains fairly heavy, it shakes off the ballad song of 'Take it all back', its a much faster song. I really want to love this song and perhaps 'I can'  in time. Its a strong song, catchy if not very simplistic chorus of you guessed it 'I can, I can.. I can'.

'Where are you' another Gotthard ballad, this time a standard gotthard rock ballad. This kind of song is what they would have recorded with Steve and he would have nailed it but equally so does Nic, there's a lot of similarity in their voices on songs like this. It quiet slow but thats not bad, very likeable.

So thats it, all reviewed. First thoughts, this is a good album! Like a phoenix Gotthard have had their  'Firebrith' this is still very much Gotthard but it reminds me of their earlier works. Nic lacks the punch that Steve had and watching live videos he can struggle with some of the classics, particularly the heavy ones, but his voice has advantages and he doesn't feel at all out of place or lacking on the album. I think I'd call this a Rock album not a Metal album but Gotthard have always boarded Metal and Hard Rock, if your a Gotthard fan I find no reason why you won't love this album. To the causal or fan of their later works you might not so much.

Firebirth is a good album, its not expectational but its hard to fault, I like it a lot. Upon finishing it all I recon 7.5/10 is fair, perhaps 7 but certainly not bad! They don't feel lacking without Steve, rest his soul, I certainly think they deserve to carry on! I look forward to more, although perhaps they should let Nic sing his songs live rather than force out sub standard classic? Or is that too harsh. Please comment away!

A Good album - 7.5/10

Album: Elysium by Stratovarius

Setting the scene

Stratovarius were one of the pioneering bands in power mental yet they were also a band of incredible bad luck. Considering that Stratovarius have faced internal disputes, were plagued with record label catastrophes, legal battles and emotional traumas its a miracle the band still stands.

There is no hiding that the current line up is completely different to that of the first two albums, but some how despite seemingly endless changes to their line up Stratovarius have created consistently quality albums that are all recognizable. Their previous album Polaris was still very much a Stratovarius album but also heralded a change in the wind.

According to Timo Kolipelte; 'Polaris was the album that saved the band. Without it there would not be any Stratovarius. With "Elysium" we are showing the people that Stratovarius are back at the top of power metal!' Even with a new diplomatic system of organisation and a 'burst of creative energy' can Elysium really live up to the hype and re-crown Stratovarius?

The Box

I found when my Pre-ordered copy of the album arrived it was the special edition, which will certainly stand out in a CD collection as the box made from hollific shimmering metallic card. Also included are small post cars from each band member with their thoughts on the album that are great for any fan and a quality booklet. All the imagray is of the style seen in the album cover. 

The Album

My first thoughts were of heart break, it was not at all what I was expecting and in fact I was very disapointed. Dispite this I placed it in my car CD player and after listening to it serveral times I began to understand that Eylsim is a great album.  Eylsim offers variety of tracks with some ballad like tracks such as 'Fairness Justified' but also high pasted power metal tracks like 'The Game Never Ends'.

Notable Tracks

I think everyone will pick their own favourate track from this album, personally I love the first track Darkest Hours, its an uplifting power metal athem with classic Stratovarius stamped all over it. ;Move the Mountain' is notably moving.

Summary

Does the album live up to all the hype, is it one of the great metal albums of all time, no. Although Elysium is a good album and I would not discourage anyone from purchasing it, its not amazing. You get the feeling Stratovarius could do better with this album, although it has more depth than Polaris its not much of a stride forward. 

4.0/5 - Elysium is a display of potensional opposed to a master piece, deffinatly take a listen but don't expect to have your mind blown. 

Buy it herenyone cares to disagree, please comment away :-)

Album: The 13th Floor by Sirena

Shuffle on MP3 never seems to do its job but tonight its actually throwing out string of amazing song and it must know its Sirena week! So with it being Sirena week I've shuffled into my old Sirena collection. Anthony has already completed a review of Sirena's Enigma of Life of readable here, but here is my thoughts on their previous album: The 13th Floor.


The Album
Stepping away from Sirena's early work to more 'main stream' 13th floor still maintains its Gothic genera but accessible to many. The album merges the divine vocals of Ailyn (formally on Spanish X-factor, glad to see she was saved!) with a powerful and eerie latin choir and death vocals. Personally I love to see different vocal types merged to create an effect, the 13th floor does this, the death vocals are well placed with Ailyn alluring vocals taking stage backed up by the choir for effect.
Instrumentally its nothing special but neither is there much room to fault it. A multitude of instruments complement the vocals, violin and piano give the symphonic which along with the choir give the album its feel. Generally drumming is nice and heavy complemented with effective rifts,

Notable Tracks
The Path to Decay - The first song and the single taken from this album, the path to decay is a great song, although heavy its very symphonic and accessible.
Sirens of the Seven Seas - One of my all time favourite songs! While this album will never be my favourite this song is on of my all time favourites. It is the only track to be lead by male vocals and they are clear male vocals that eventually blend into grunts as the character of the song succumbs to Sirens. A great song that shows off Sirens full retinue, an amazing end to the album.


Summary
The 13th Floor is kind of album that each song you listen too you think is amazing but they don't stand out in your mind. While this is a good album and has loads of great songs, it just lacks something to make it amazing and I'm struggling to find what that is.

3.8/5 - Not a special album but by no means bad, full of great songs and you wouldn't regret owning it.

Buy it here

Too harsh? Too generous? Please comment bellow :-)

Album: Twilight Time by Stratovarius

It seems strange that the first review on this blog is of an album made before I was born! Yet I said I would review the next album I received in the post and this was it! Thats right I did say, in the post.. not downloaded! After all who could resist a proper album when they are for sale for under £4. Given its a in a box lets quickly skim over that.

The Box
The cover for this album is actually quite nice, one of Stratovarius' less garish albums covers! The text is very retro though but it all adds to the feel. It has a very cheep feel though once you take a look around the box, the lyrics are printed in Times New Roman on a white back ground.. and the only band picture is a postage stamp size and very pixilated. Although the plastic thing that the CD clips into was reenforced on my copy which is very good, I've had band experiences with other albums breaking there. For their second album on not much money, I should cut them some slack!

The Album
Now this is very important, as with any early Stratovarius: Listen to the album, Listen to it again.. go to bed wake up listen to it... let the songs sink into your head then play it very loud that evening! It sounds a bit odd but on the first listening of this album I hated it! Same with Dream Space, Fourth Dimension and Episode! Its mostly likely the nature of the genera that does this to you.
'Breaking the Ice' opens the albums with nice heavy punch, which is not Timo's strong point but it works.. just. The rifts as you would expect from stratovarius, very good, and the solos are too.
Besides 'Breaking the Ice', 'Metal Frenzy' is pretty heavy (by my standards!)
Anyone who has listened to Stratovarius will know they tend to include a 7minute + song, this is the song that keeps you coming back and I think for this album I would be 'Madness Strikes at Midnight'  when combined with 'Twilight Time' these tracks have a catchy enough chorus to bring you back in to enjoy this album that you would otherwise probably forget!
Theres no overal feel to the album but the tracks are slotted well together, it is an album not a collection of songs.

Notable tracks
Besides what I've mentioned earlier 'The Hills have Eyes' is an eerie feel, its a fantastic song. Its nice to hear some unusual sounds and despite the crititism that Timo Tolkki gets his voice does range and certainly does not spoil the album, the song has a great beat too it as well.
'Lead us into the light' does not do it for me though, its the classic Stratovarious finisher that could be compared to 'Wings of Tomorrow' or 'We hold the Key' but it just lacks the quality that could have really helped this album.

Summary
If you stick it out this album does reward you, it begin in my iTunes liberary with one star.. then the next day two and now I've raised it to four stars! Thats around what I'm giving this album, 3.75 stars. It lacks the real quality tracks or theme and has some weak links calling a five out of question but it really grew on me. Its a bit forgettable but when you do come back to it, it will be a pleasure. I'd give it four but its bettered by later stratovarius albums.

3.75/5 - Don't judge it too soon, its a must have for Stratovarius fans, but not amazing.

Buy it Here

I'm a big Stratovarius fan so if anyone cares to disagree, please comment away :-)