Crusible / Halford (2002)

1. Park Manor

2. Crucible

3. One Will

4. Betrayal

5. Handing Out Bullets

6. Hearts Of Darkness

7. Crystal

8. Heretic

9. Golgotha

10. Wrath Of God

11. Weaving Sorrow

12. Sun

13. Trail Of Tears

14. Rock The World Forever (Japanese Bonus Track)

15. In The Morning (Japanese Bonus Track)

"Resurrection" was the album that Rob Halford showed what fans were expecting of him. It received positive feedback from all over the world. Here is the second message of Halford. The first impression was that this album was covered by dark and heavy mood. Sound production got much heavier than the first album. It showed more influence from what he did during 90's. When I listened to the title track 2, I was bit surprised by the sound production. This album really shows his spirit of inquiry. 

Likes of dislikes can be different by each person's favor, but I would say, at least, the quality of each song is very high. Track 4 is a killer tune that all of new metal fans should hail to. Track 3 is a pure metal song. One of my favorites in this album is track 13. It is really dramatic yet heavy. It is really obvious that the band became much tighter than before. The back instruments are making good groove. The sound production is not my favorite, but I think highly of the song composition. In addition, it is not as strange as "Judas Priest" making "Jugulator" or "Demolition". However, the album is not as excited as the last one. But, Rob Halford is singing heavy metal, there is nothing to complain about.

☆☆☆☆

Thunderstone / Thunderstone (2002)

1. Let The Demons Free

2. Virus

3. World's Cry

4. Me, My Enemy

5. Will to Power

6. Weak

7. Eyes of a Stranger

8. Like Father, Like Son

9. Voice In a Dream

10. Spread My Wings

Since the beginning of 21st century, it seems like that there is a great metal movement going on in Europe. Metal music is much stronger there compared to the U.S. and Asia. There is something with me and North Europe. I guess that the melody that Finish people write really matches with my favor. Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Twilightning, and Nightwish, they are all Finish bands and great melody makers.

Here is another band from Finland that I listened in real time. I was a high school student at that time. One day, I went to the CD store that I used to hang out all day after school. I listened to this album. The first song was OK. That was a typical speed/power metal song. The one that caught my attention was track 2. It got me from the intro. It was not pop but very catchy.

By some critics, this band was bashed and called a copy band of Stratovarius. Well, it is obvious that they are one of the biggest inspiration to this band. Yet, I want to ask how many of their followers actually write good songs. This band writes good songs. That's what really matters for metal fans, right? I liked this album because it consists of good metal tunes. The middle instrumental part of track 7 is very moving. The musicians have enough techniques to play metal songs. I would say this is a good album with high quality.

☆☆☆☆

Arrival / Journey (2001)

1. Higher Place

2. All the Way

3. Signs of Life

4. All the Things

5. Loved By You

6. Livin' to Do

7. I Got a Reason

8. With Your Love

9. Lifetime of Dreams

10. Live and Breathe

11. Kiss Me Softly

12. I'm Not That Way

13. We Will Meet Again

14. To Be Alive Again

Arnel Pineda became a celebrity since he became a singer of Journey. His voice won the hearts of Journey's fans. That was one great "Cinderella story".  Steve Perry is the original singer that has the established status. Still this day, I am hoping that he will come back and join the band someday. Well, for the most of Journey's fans, it seems like that the fact that there was another singer who were a member of the band and made two albums with them between Perry and Pineda. His name was Steve Augeri. I have been having the feeling that the most people either forgot or are neglecting that the fact the he was the singer of one of the most popular band in the world.

This was the first album that Steve Augeri sang with the band. Most people even don't know that this album existed because of the commercial failure. The album peaked at #56 on the Billboard 200. It was the worst chart position since 1978. Of course, I don't say this album was the best Journey's album. However, I have to say that this album is in Top 5 list of my Journey discography. The quality of the songs doesn't yield to no other great albums such as Escape and Frontiers. The album contains full of Journey essence. It has good catchy melody, beautiful ballads, and cool up-tempo rock songs.

Steve Augeri's voice is not as similar as Pineda's to the original singer. But, it really matches with the band and does not destruct ears. In the lead single, "All The Way", you can hear everything you expect from Journey, beautiful Piano intro, heart-aching vocal, and cool guitar solo. It also has some good rock songs such as "Higher Place" and "Signs of Life". This album also has one of my favorite ballads, "Kiss Me Softly". This song reminded me of "Who's Crying Now" and "Still She Cries" (Trial By Fire). It has one of the most beautiful chorus.

Anyways, I really wish that this album will be more recognized and receive right evaluation and reviews. If you like Journey, please please listen to this album. You won't regret paying some money to have this masterpiece. 

☆☆☆☆☆

The Dark Ride / Helloween (2000)

1. Beyond The Portal

2. All Over The Nation

3. Mr. Torture

4. Escalation 666

5. Mirror Mirror

6. If I Could Fly

7. Salvation

8. The Departed (Sun Is Going Down)

9. I Live For Your Pain

10. We Damn The Night

11. Immortal

12. The Dark Ride

This album was a controversial one. There were several reasons. The sound of this album is very heavy and dark, so some people said this did not sound like Helloween. Michael Weikath especially did not like this album. He contributed only two songs despite the fact that he wrote more songs. I supposed that the band's situation was not good (In fact, Uli and Roland got fired after the tour of this album). However, this album was one of the records that I listened hundreds times during high school years and still liked it.

I admit that the band's sound became much darker and heavier, yet I do not think they completely lost Helloween essence. Pop essence that Andi brought was still present. In fact, he wrote 6 out of 11 songs. The album contains typical Helloween style power metal songs (Tracks 2 and 6 by Weikath, track 9 by Andi, and title track 11 by Roland) and ballads (Tracks 5 and 10 by Andi). I admit that other songs are not typical Helloween sound that we expect, but they still have good melodies and hook. In fact, track 3 written by Uli was played during Legacy tour. 

I think the impression of the album can be very different by which copy of this album you listen to. Tracks 2 and 3 might be switched depending on which country you bought. I have both issues and compared. The copy with "Mr. Torture" on track 2 gave me impression of the dark sound overall, but the other copy that track list is as written above was not so bad.

I am not here to say that this album is comparable with "Keeper Part I and II" or "The Time Of The Oath". However, I hope this album will get more credit by quality not by expectation of fans.

☆☆☆☆

Resurrection / Halford (2000)

1. Resurrection

2. Made In Hell

3. Locked And Loaded

4. Night Fall

5. Silent Scream

6. The One You Love To Hate

7. Cyberworld

8. Slow Down

9. Twist

10. Temptation

11. Drive

12. Saviour

Years 1999 and 2000 became remarkable for metal maniacs. In 1999, Bruce Dickinson returned to Iron Maiden, and Rob Halford returned to the heavy metal music scene in 2000. He strayed off the course in 90's. He formed "Fight" and "Two", which were more modern, industrial, and alternative metal. However, after all of the wander, he returned to the pure metal. I still clearly remember the first time I heard this album, I got goose bumps from the first song when I heard his high tone scream. In the whole album, he plays pure metal that all of his fans expect of him.

From tracks 1 to 7, all of the songs ran through really quickly. The opening song is a killer tune, track 1, that reminds us songs such as "Painkiller". In track 2, we can hear his powerful mid-range voice. He talks about his life story in this song. Track 3 is a cool mid-tempo tune. Track 4 has beautiful chorus. Track 5 is very dramatic and progressive in some degree. After taking a breath for a moment, the album takes us to tracks 6 and 7. Halford collaborated with Bruce Dickinson on track 6. It's an extravagant song for all of metal fans. Track 7 is obviously inspired by "Electric Eye". Then, three mid-tempo songs come in row, so tension gets little loose here, but they kept quality of songs. At the end, they press us with two powerful tunes.

Overall, he played what he was expected from the fans. I could see some influence he had from what he had done in 90's. Nevertheless, it was well sublimed with "Judas Priest" style of heavy metal. Obviously, guitars were down tuned, but it did not bothered me at all. Two guitarists did wonderful job in this album. Perhaps, it is due to the fact that they grew up listening to "Judas Priest". All of heavy metal fans must have this record!

☆☆☆☆☆

Brave New World / Iron Maiden (2000)

1. The Wicker Man

2. Ghost Of The Navigator

3. Brave New World

4. Blood Brothers

5. The Mercenary

6. Dream Of Mirrors

7. The Fallen Angel

8. The Nomad

9. Out Of The Silent Planet

10. The Thin Line Between Love And Hate

1999 was a remarkable year for heavy metal fans. Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith came back to one of the greatest pioneer bands of heavy metal. Right after that, they went on greatest hits tour and then released this album. This was the first studio album I learned of this band. First, I bought "A Real Dead One" and then "Rock In Rio" which contained the "Brave New World" tour. From those two live albums, I could tell that these guys were great live act, so I decided to also buy this album. Since then, I was possessed to this band. I have all of their studio albums. It all started here.

As I mentioned before, I like Blaze Bayley and "Virtual XI". However, no one can deny that Bruce is the voice of Iron Maiden after you listened to this album. If you listen to the first three songs, you feeling just settles down because you know that you are listening to the songs that are played in right way. I just cannot imagine listening to those songs sung by someone else. Every part of this album is Iron Maiden that we know. Powerful riffs, dramatic progression, vocals, everything is great!!

Musically, my impression was that the first half is very rocking, and the second half was more progressive. I guess they have not spent much time as having three guitarists, so there is not much arrangement regarding three guitar parts.

☆☆☆☆☆

Infinite by Strativarius (2000)

1. Hunting High And Low

2. Millennium

3. Mother Gaia

4. Phoenix

5. Glory Of The World

6. A Million Light Years Away

7. Freedom

8. Infinity

9. Celestial Dream

Since "Episode", Strativarius has been forming their music and beauty of their style. I think that process came to one climax with the last album "Destiny". That album was very progressive and really established their style. I was wondering how they would head to the next stage. Well, this is the answer from the band. They created another masterpiece. They successfully suceeded the last album yet also moved further to progress musically.

The lead single, track 1, became one of the most important repertories at their concert. Their music style is very limited in good ways and bad ways. Nevertheless, they surprised me with richness of their melody and songwriting. Many of their fast tunes sound similar, but they wrote tracks 2, 4, 6, and 7. They are all catchy and very unique. A beautiful ballad 3 is very dramatic. Track 6 is a new type in their music. It also became an important song on their set-lists. A progressive number, track 8, is very exciting, and the album ends with another ballad, track 9.

They have established their music style in last three albums. However, this time is almost like that they broke out of their own shell. They still stand strong in the position where their followers cannot reach even close. I have to take my hat off to them.

☆☆☆☆☆