United Abominations / Megadeth (2007)

1. Sleepwalker

2. Washington Is Next!

3. Never Walk Alone...A Call to Arms

4. United Abominations

5. Gears of War

6. Blessed Are the Dead

7. Pray For Blood

8. A Tout Le Monde (Set Me Free)

9. Amerikhastan

10. You're Dead

11. Burnt Ice

Megadeth was not a melodic metal band. It had really sharp edge on every single riff that Mustaine made at the beginning. He called it "Intellectual Thrash Metal". Then, Mustaine developed his skill as a singer, and the band sound started becoming more mellow. Mustaine returned with a great album. It was the most melodious album, in my opinion, in their career. Once again, he proved himself that he was the great riff master and melody maker.

Track 1 reminded me of their early era. He showed the world that he has not edge。In addition to that, the flow from track 1 to 2 is amazing! Even though you are not a Megadeth fan, you would love track 2 unless you hate heavy metal in general. Because the first 3 songs have such strong impact, you may not be as attracted to other songs, but this album's overall quality compares favorably with other albums. This album has the universal appeal to all kinds of metal fans.

☆☆☆☆

Humanity: Hour 1 / Scorpions (2007)

1. Hour 1

2. The Game of Life

3. We Were Born to Fly

4. The Future Never Dies

5. You're Lovin' Me to Death

6. 321

7. Love Will Keep Us Alive

8. We Will Rise Again

9. Your Last Song

10. Love Is War

11. The Cross

12. Humanity

In their early career, Scorpions was not the pop rock/metal band. Their music had really dark tone and beautiful longing melody. Since 80's, their music shifted more pop and catchy, and the dark tone was cast away. However, I think they started coming back to their root as they come to the end of their career. They showed some glimpse of it in the last album, but this album really reminded me of their early songs. The sound is heavier than ever, yet not only sound but song itself became darker. Desmond Child wrote the story line of this album and jointed largely on songwriting as well.

1. Hour 1
I was bit freaked out by the sound. The guitar sound became much heavier compare to their past albums. But, chorus really sounds like Scorpions.

2. The Game of Life
It is super heavy, but you can tell that riff sounds like Rudolf if you listen to it carefully. The funny thing is that he is not credited as one of the composers. I guess these producers also know this band well.

3. We Were Born to Fly
Very heavy yet sensitive and beautiful. The chorus has sad longing melody.

4. The Future Never Dies
They were always great ballad composers. However, ballads songs they wrote in 80's and 90's were very different from 70's (I am not saying they were bad. They were great but different from their early days). I was waiting for this kind of melody. This song is really moving.

5. You're Loving Me to Death
A song start with typical Rudolf's power chord riff. It is amazing how many riffs he can come up with simple power chords. The song features catchy chorus.

6. 321
Intro riffs reminded me of Velvet Revolver and Nickelback. The band started using this kind of heavy riff from 90's, but it sounds much more modern now since their sound is much heavier. This is also a song has good flowing chorus. 

7. Love Will Keep Us Alive
This is not necessarily the one of the songs in this album that reminds me of early days of the band but is definitely one of the most beautiful ballads they have ever written.

8. We Will Rise Again
A song that has good contrast of silence and movement. They used to do this a lot in early career too.  

9. Your Last Song
This song has a lot of modulation. The key switch from minor to major key back and forth. I really love the lead guitar parts in this song.

10. Love Is War
A mid-tempo song featuring acoustic guitar. Another thing really impressed me about this albums is the high-level arrangement. It may be largely counted on Desmond Child.

11. The Cross
Another good rock number. It has good heavy riff and catchy chorus. Pretty straightforward. 

12. Humanity
The leading single from this album. This song is not the most catchy song in this album but well describes this album. It has dramatic beginning, contrast of silence and movement, dark tone, and longing melody. One of my favorites in this album.

Overall, I was fully satisfied. If you like only 80's and early 90's of this band, you may not like this album. Nevertheless, if you are a fan of early Scorpions, please come back and listen to this album. I highly recommend you this album!

☆☆☆☆☆

MK II / Masterplan (2007)

1. Phoenix Rising

2. Warrior's Cry

3. Lost And Gone

4. Keeps Me Burning

5. Take Me Over

6. I'm Gonna Win

7. Watching the World

8. Call the Gypsy

9. Trust In You

10. Masterplan

11. Enemy

12. Heart of Darkness

The second album was the true first album that Masterplan established themselves as a band. However, the gypsy singer, Jorn Lande, left the band. Uli, who was one of the central figures, left the band as well. It was a  big loss for the band, especially Jorn, who was making this band unique among other power metal bands. Make DiMeo (ex-Riot) and Mike Terrana (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) joined the band. 

Musically, they did not change at all in this album. They kept the same music direction that they were heading in the first two albums. Jorn was a big loss, but DiMeo's voice really matches with the band even though his voice was not as deep as Jorn. Uli was not just a drummer but also a great composer, but I did not find any problem as far as songwriting. The album has catchy metal tunes such as tracks 2, 4, 7, and 11. However, I think their unique identity lies in non-typical power metal songs such as tracks 3, 6, 9, and 12. These songs are not fast but very dramatic and has good melody lines. One thing really bothered me about Uli's play was that he sometimes played "too much". He is definitely a skillful drummer but not very groovy. Terrana is doing good job making groove with the band.

Those two members' departure was definitely a big loss for the band. Nevertheless, they prevented the loss in minimum. They pushed their style and music forward and made another good record.

☆☆☆☆

The Roaring Of Dreams / Pride Of Lions (2007)

1. Heaven On Earth

2. Book Of Life

3. Love's Eternal Flam

4. Langage Of The Heart

5. Let Me Let You Go

6. Faithful Heart

7. Defying Gravity

8. The Roaring Of Dreams

9. Secret Of The Way

10. Astonish You

11. Tall Ships

12. Turnaround

13. I Am My Father (Bonus Track)

Pride of Lions is one of the few bands that I don't have to worry before I listened to new materials because I can rely on them that they always deliver high quality songs. Since they recently released a new album, I thought I should write a review of this album before I listened to the new one.

Jim Peterik, who is known as a former member of Survivor, and Toby Hitchcock formed Pride of Lions in 2003. Their debut album Pride of Lions was one of the best album I listened in that year. His vision to create 80's melodic rock music with modern sound became reality. His song writing skill never declined, and their second album bears comparison with the first record.

However in this album, they reached higher level with creating music. From the first song, they attack you with great riffs, melodies, and thrilling phrases. Toby's vocal became more mellower and stronger. The contrast of Jim's voice and Toby's is better than ever. The album contains full of great rock songs as well as beautiful ballads. Every These people are not just being nostalgic of 80's music. They are moving forward by creating 80's influenced music which is very new and unique in today's music scene. I strongly hope that they will tour Japan. I grantee that I would be there when the day comes.

☆☆☆☆☆

Rise / The Answer (2006)

1. Under the Sky

2. Never Too Late

3. Come Follow Me

4. Be What You Want

5. Memphis Water

6. No Questions Asked

7. Into the Gutter

8. Sometimes Your Love

9. Leavin' Today

10. Preachin'

11. Always

The Answer is a band from Northern Ireland. I define them as "the Resurrection of Old British/Irish Rock in Modern Heavy Sound." When you listen to them, it reminds of many old British and Irish band, yet they are also very original. They are very skilled musicians.


Even before they release their first major debut album, they opened a gig for Deep Purple. Following their debut, they opened for Paul Rogers, Whitesnake, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and many other big names. They are one of most recognized rock band in England and Ireland.


The reason why I picked them is because I do not think they are receiving the recognition that they deserve here in U.S. Their music is very riff-oriented. If you like 60's/70's British Rock, you would probably love this band as well. I really hope they will become more popular in the U.S. Their second album is pretty good too, but this first album is my favorite. I need to buy their third one!!

☆☆☆☆☆

Daughtry / Daughtry (2006)

1. It's Not Over

2. Used To

3. Home

4. Over You

5. Crashed

6. Feels Like Tonight

7. What I Want (feat. Slash)

8. Breakdown

9. Gone

10. There and Back Again

11. All These Lives

12. What About Now

13. Feels Like the First Time (Foreigner Cover)

I was never a fan of "American Idol" or did not watch even one season. However, this guy, Chris Daughtry really interested me, because I read him in one magazine. It was not a regular music magazine or some kind of gossip magazine. It was a magazine called "Burrn", my favorite music magazine. It is not just a regular music magazine. It is specialized in hard rock and heavy metal music. This guys was the first "American Idol" participant was in that magazine. 

It really interested me and made me find him on YouTube. I found a video of track 1, the lead single from this album. It was a good American song but also had emotional moving melody and vocal. Soon after I heard his voice, I knew this guy was not just an "idol" but a real singer. His voice is really strong but sometimes really sensitive and emotional. He has a wide range of voice and can keep strength in any range. This album is full of good rock songs and ballads. The melody is very catchy and has good hook. 7 singles were released from this album. Track 2 and 4 is catchy rock songs. Track 3 is a heartfelt ballad. Track 5 has feeling from 90's grunge to some modern alternative rock. Track 6 a beautiful chorus. The song that features Slash, track 7, is the heaviest number out of all. His voice stands out in a heavy number as well. Track 12 is very emotional and dramatic. There are other good rock songs, heavy tunes, and ballads as well.

He would not appeal to heavy metal fans. Maybe, he would not typical old-school hard rock fans. I would not say this is my favorite kind of music. I am more towards British/European rock and metal fans (probably you can tell, if you check my other reviews). But, I can say that this album will appeal to wide range of music fans. In fact, it did. If you are not a hardcore hardheaded hard rock fan, please try to check this guy out. This record is a high quality album, and I would like to keep checking this band out!

☆☆☆☆

The Open Door / Evanescence (2006)

1. Sweet Sacrifice

2. Call Me When You're Sober

3. Weight Of The World

4. Lithium

5. Cloud Nine

6. Snow White Queen

7. Lacrymosa

8. Like You

9. Lose Control

10. The Only One

11. Your Star

12. All That I'm Living For

13. Good Enough

14. Call Me When You're Sober (Acoustic Version)

The first album was full of surprise. Melancholy melody, symphonic arrangement, heavy sound, everything was really fresh for me. I just could not imagine that any American band would play this kind of music. The melodies that Amy Lee sang somehow reminded me of some European music. Despite of their great success, the band lost Ben Moody who was one of the main composers of the band. They continued touring with the joint of Terry Balsamo. "Anywhere But Home" was released. It showed that how the band was shaped up during the long tour. However, I did not think Terry was as skillful as Ben when I watched the DVD, so I started having some concerns regarding their next album.

My conclusion after listening to the album was that the identity of this band was Amy Lee. She creates music, mood, and the world of Evanescence. This is another high quality album. This is very heavy, melodious, and moving. The melodies she makes is sometimes sad, sometimes intense, and beautiful. Regarding of guitar play, I still have to say that I like Ben Moody better. His riffs were very unique, and lead guitars were very cool. Nevertheless, Terry and John LeCompt also did wonderful job on the record. I guess it is just my preference. If you liked their first album, you would love this album as well.

Eventually, all of the original band members left after this album. Sadly, Amy truly proved that she is the core of this band in this album.

☆☆☆☆