Melodic Rock Fanzine issue 52

THRESHOLD - Definitive Edition (Nuclear Blast) “Formed in the South of England in the late 1980s, THRESHOLD combined the influences of heavy metal and progressive rock to craft their own unique sound which was a far cry from the commercial sound of the time.” Threshold are one of the best progressive metal band ever and their history is so full of amazing and innovative albums that no one can disagree with this statement. Nuclear blast is releasing all their back catalogue and this is a really amazing operation since the first albums are all out of print and so much difficoult to find.

They are called “Definitive Edition” and will be released in September, October and November: “Wounded Land” + “Psychedelicatessen” – September 7, 2012, “Extinct Instinct” + “Clone” – October 12, 2012, “Hypothetical” + “Critical Mass” + “Subsurface” – November 16, 2012. All the edition will be enriched with extensive bonus material making them an absolute presence in your album collections.

Vitale Nocerino (95/100) ORDEN OGAN - To The End (AFM Records) Originally founded in June 1996 as Tanzende Aingewaide the band was soon renamed to Orden Ogan. After releasing three well received demo tapes: "Into Oblivion" (1997), "Anthem to the Darkside" (1998) and "Soli Deo Gloria" (1999), and going through some line up changes the band they self produced the full length album "Testimonium a.d." in 2004 that got a huge success among german critics. “To The End” is an epic melodic metal album crafted with the best intention possible. In addition to that fans of the band will be pleased by the releasing of “Angels War” and “Mystic Symphony”, two songs constant part of their live set for many years but never released on an official album. Other relevant tunes are the title track “To The End”, the epic ballad “The Ice Kings” and “Dying Paradise”. Orden Ogan are exceptionally talented musicians that panned a high class songs collection. A great metal album indeed.

Fabio “Deuce” Mainardi (88/100) OBESESSION – Order of Chaos (Ulterium Records) Formed way back in 1982, Obsession is an American heavy metal band led by singer Michael Vescera. The band passed trough many line up changes and Vescere also joined for some time the Japanese metal group Loudness and Yngwie Malmsteen on the albums "The Seventh Sign" and "Magnum Opus". In 2004 Obsession reformed and they released "Carnival of Lies" in 2006 while in the 2008 the self titled Obsession. In 2009, Obsession started working on "Order of Chaos". Currently Vescera's band members are Scott Boland (MVP) and John Bruno (X Factor X) on guitars, Chris McCarvill (House of Lords, Jeff Scott Soto, Dokken) on bass and BJ Zampa (Dokken, Yngwie Malmsteen, House of Lords) on drums and even though this is a totally new line up the classic Obsession sound is still there.

Personal highlights “Twist Of The Knife”, “License To Kill” and “Dark Shadows” but rest assure most of the tracks will rock you out loud.

Fabio “Deuce” Mainardi (87/100) CANNON – Burning Love (Yesterrock) No strangers to the rigors of the music business, ‘Cannon’ have been around since the mid-eighties. Veteran Hard-rockers all “Cannon” went missing in action during the last decade of the twentieth century, only to be found again in 2002/03. It was actually 2003 that the full-fledged re-union of this German mainstay of Heavy Metal was realised. The group hasn’t looked back since and their latest effort, “Burning Love” is an apt title, as this record shows their collective love for Heavy Metal music.

Yes, you can tell that they are all veterans, but not dated. “Burning Love” is modern molten metal in every sense. High energy levels… Intense, rhythmic, and in places quite melodic. A tough and hard hitting slice of metal, “Burning Love” will heat up your love for straight-up, no nonsense Rock!!

Bruce Atkinson (88/100) IMPERA – Legacy Of Life (Escape Music) Impera is the brainchild of drummer J K Impera, who some three years ago, originally had John Corabi pencilled in to cover the lead vocal slot, but unfortunately schedule conflicts meant this wasn’t to be. Luckily enough for us that meant that left room for Matti Alfonzetti to step up to the plate to fill the vocal role. Along with Matti comes Tommy Denander, whose pedigree in the genre is second to none and finally taking up the bass duties is Mats Vassfjord, so Impera was born. The album itself is no-nonsense Hard Rock, with Impera leading the way from behind the skins with a thunderous back beat and those hard edged bass lines of Vassfjord not far behind.

Up front we have the huge vocals of Alfonzetti and leading the charge, the six string splendour that is Denander’s trade mark. From the opener “Turn My Heart To Stone” to the closer “Deadend Street”, it’s hard rocking all the way. The phrase “all killer no filler” comes to mind. Definitely one of the finest hard rock debuts of the year.

Barry McMinn (92/100) REDLINE – Vice (Escape Music) Hailing from the British heartland of Hard Rock, Redline is a five piece Birmingham band that lives and breathes “Nu-classic Rock”. Six years old, this quintet are creators of some very tasteful, well executed straight ahead rock. Hardened by the powerful driving rhythm section of Mark Biddiscombe-drums, Steve Hall - bass, and Rhythm guitarist Steve Petty. The music on “Vice” is further tempered by Lead Vocalist Kez Taylor and Lead Guitarist; Ade Yeomans. “Vice” can be considered the group’s debut, at least in the full length album category. Since their inception, ‘Redline’ has been constantly growing. With a few line-up changes, and numerous demos…

The group’s present membership seems to be the one. Producing a driven and melodic set of songs, “Vice” should serve these lads very well, and yes, us as well!

Bruce Atkinson (80/100) MRF | 13