Nostradamus / Judas Priest (2008)

Disc 1

1. Dawn of Creation

2. Prophecy

3. Awakening

4. Revelations

5. The Four Horsemen

6. War

7. Sands of Time

8. Pestilence and Plague

9. Death

10. Peace

11. Conquest

12. Lost Love

13. Persecution

Disc 2

14. Solitude

15. Exiled

16. Alone

17. Shadows In the Flame

18. Visions

19. Hope

20. New Beginnings

21. Calm Before the Storm

22. Nostradamus

23. Future of Mankind

I have never made a comment on this album up to this point. The reason was that I did not know how to put this album down in the catalogue of Judas Priest. "Turbo" was a controversial album for innovating synthesizer in metal. I would say this album was controversial but was on a completely different degree. "Turbo" is not even comparable with this record. This is their first concept album. The album structure was not usual. About a half of the songs were preludes and not full length songs. The music style was not typical heavy metal. It was just completely different from their past catalogues. Therefore, I did not know how to comprehend this record. Well, it has been more than 4 years, and I think I can listen to this album more objectively.

As I listened to the whole album once again today, I was surprised by the quality of arrangement of this album. Speaking of "Turbo", you can hear synthesizer and keyboard throughout the entire album. They turned more pop with "Turbo", but they used them to make symphonic sound and magnificent scale. When I first listened to this album for the first time, I could not believe that this was Judas Priest's album. It sounded so strange. Nevertheless, I realized that there was more Judas Priest essence in this record. For example, in the guitar solo of track 2, you can hear the guitar battle of K.K. and Glenn. Track 8 has a great minor melody. It is one of the best melody written by Rob Halford. This song can be in the second half of "Painkiller". Track 12 is a beautiful ballad. They also showed aggressive side of heavy metal music. Track 13 reminded me of "Night Crawler". Track 22 is the fastest number in this album. It starts with magnificent intro, and then the song becomes aggressive with Rob's high tone scream. The last song, track 23, is a dramatic number and suits as the end.

As I listened to this album today, I was surprised by the quality of this album. Even though there are 23 songs, I did not think that they made unnecessary additions. Each song has good melody line. The attempt of using synthesizer was very successful. It did not sound a thin veneer. It was much better than some cheap symphonic metal bands. If you ask me if this was the album that I expect from Judas Priest, I would say "No". This is definitely not what metal fans expect. This is not typical Judas Priest, yet I would like to evaluate their challenging spirit, musicianship and quality they brought in this album. I heard that they were going to release an album in 2013. I would like to expect them of "THIS IS THE METAL ALBUM" this time.

☆☆☆

Revelation / Journey (2008)

1. Never Walk Away

2. Like A Sunshower

3. Change For The Better

4. Wildest Dream

5. Faith In The Heartland

6. After All These Years

7. Where Did I Lose Your Love

8. What I Needed

9. What It Takes To Win

10. Turn Down The World Tonight

11. The Journey (Revelation)

12. The Place In Your Heart

"Generation" was little disappointing, and another tragedy came. Steve Augeri left the band due to illness. He had to leave the band during tour. The band continued the tour with Jeff Scott Soto. Then, it was announced that he was appointed to be officially the singer of the band. Nevertheless, he left the band after the tour. All of Journey fans worried about their future. After a while, I heard a strange news. It was announced that Journey chose a new singer, but the new vocal is a Filipino. I could not believe what I saw. Nothing against Filipinos, but I could not believe that one of the biggest American band picked a singer from Philippines. However, when I watched the band's performance at TV show on YouTube, I could not believe what I saw even more. The new singer just sounded like Steve Perry. Steve Augeri really matched with the band, but Arnel Pineda was totally on a different degree. I was stunned. Since that moment, I was really looking for the new album.

This album was solely distributed through Walmart. Right after it was released, I went there to purchase the record. It was much better than what I was expecting. The sound has the mood of "Frontier" and "Escape" era. When I heard track 1, I knew this album would be great. Every song in this album reminds me of their golden age of 80's. They had written another great ballad which should be added on their masterpiece, track 6. This song is comparable to "Open Arms" or "Faithfully". Track 7 became one of my favorite Journey songs. It is a great dramatic rock tune. They also played two songs from the last album. They picked the best tracks from it. Even though, I liked the original version, it is really interesting how the voice of Arnel Pineda matches better to the songs. Journey has returned stronger than ever!!

☆☆☆☆☆

Heart Full Of Fire / Brother Firetribe (2008)

1. Who Will You Run To Now

2. Wildest Dreams

3. Runaways

4. Game They Call Love

5. Play It From The Heart

6. Heart Full Of Fire

7. Heard It On My Radio

8. Going Out With A Bang

9. Out Of My Head

10. Chasing The Angels (Mike Reno Cover)

11. I Am Rock

Europe has its own unique rock/metal scene. I am always jealous about it. However, the most of them don't become huge in the U.S., which I really don't understand. Maybe because these European bands won't be played on radio. Maybe because they don't have strong connection or strong record companies that can push them. Whatever the reasons are, the fact that they are not famous in America or Japan does not make them less awesome.

One thing that I like about those European bands is that they show much influence from 80's music (Please note that whatever I say in this blog is based on personal opinions). This band is another example of them. I was first interested in this band because Erno "Emppu" Vuorinen from Nightwish was playing. I was expecting symphonic metal sound at first, which I also loved, but this band show a lot of respect and love for 80's music. You can feel that from the cover of "Chasing the Angels", a song from the movie, "Iron Eagle 2". 

The album contains great songs that show a lot of influence of 80's with modern sound. My favorites are "Wildest Dream", "Play from the Heart", "Heart Full Of Fire", "Chasing the Angels", and "I Am Rock". Since I love so many bands from 80's, it was so easy to listen the whole album. If you like AOR bands from 80's, please buy this record and listen to it!! You won't regret paying some money for these awesome pieces.

☆☆☆☆☆

The Premonition / Firewind (2008)

1. Into The Fire

2. Head Up High

3. Mercenary Man

4. Angles Forgive Me

5. Remembered

6. My Loneliness

7. Circle Of Life

8. The Silent Code

9. Maniac

10. Life Foreclosed

Most people in America learned the name Gus. G when he joined Ozzy Osbourne Band. However in Europe, South America, and Asia, he was already known with many band and projects he worked. I first heard his name as a guitarist who is playing in three different bands at a time. That really did not interest me at that time. One day, I was surfing on YouTube and checking many metal bands and found the video of "Head Up High". Immediately, it caught my attention. Soon after that, I purchased this album. It was more than surprise. It was astonishing. Great Riff, great melody, great arrangement, great songs!!!

When I started listening to this record, I figured how a great riff maker Gus. G was right away. I read on a music magazine somewhere him saying that he did not write melody for songs. If that story is true, Apolo must be a great partner and melody maker. Melody has good hook and sometimes catchy and sometimes becomes very emotional. The album is full of great songs. Especially, tension from tracks 1 to 5 is amazing and does not give you time to breathe! 6 is a beautiful ballad, and the mood becomes mellow. From tracks 7 to 10, they press on you with energy. Track 9 is perticulary a excellent piece.

I know he did not put input in songwriting in Ozzy Osbourne Band. I am really hoping that, someday, we can hear Ozzy singing Gus. G's songs. That collaboration will be more interesting than having hired songwriter's songs.

☆☆☆☆☆

Gambling With the Devil / Helloween (2007)

1. Crack the Riddle

2. Kill It

3. The Saints

4. As Long As I Fall

5. Paint a New World

6. Final Fortune

7. The Bells of the 7 Hells

8. Fallen to Pieces

9. I.M.E.

10. Can Do It

11. Dreambound

12. Heaven Tells No Lies

After Andi joined the band, Helloween became a different band. Of course, they are the pioneer of Melodic Power Metal band. That status never changed. However, his pop essences and ability as a singer brought much influence in this band. I am not hear to talk about which singer was better than the other. As I mentioned before, they are completely different, and we cannot say one is better. All I want to say is that, this album could be sung only by Andi. He can do dirty scream, high tone, and sometimes even growling voice. He contributed 5 songs out of 12. As a result, this album became full of Andi taste. 

1. Crack the Riddle

Opening Narration

2. Kill It

A brutal tune. It reminds me of "Push" from "Better Than Raw". It is a great opening number. I realized that Andi has been one to write the most (Helloween style) brutal songs in recent albums. 

3. The Saints

A typical Weiki's song. It has a good flowing melody on chorus.

4. As Long As I Fall

A good Andi style pop metal song. This song was also released as a single.

5. Paint a new world

Another strong power metal number written by Sascha. This one was also released as a single. 

6. Final Fortune

From last album, I really like the songs that Markus. This song is my favorite song in this album.

7. The Bell of the 7 Hells

Starts with intense verses and goes to catchy chorus. You can see all attraction of Andi as a singer in this song.

8. Fallen to Pieces

First, you would think this song is a ballad. In some sense, you can say that, but the song has good progression during the middle of it. A dramatic tune.

9. I.M.E.

Andi's writings line up three in row. This is heavy but has good pop essence as well.

10. Can Do It

Weiki only contributed two songs, but they both ended up typical Helloween songs that fans expect. Track 3 was a power metal song, and this one shows the pop side of this band.

11. Dreambound
Another fast tune written by Sascha. Since the beginning of his joint, Sascha has been a good composer of this band (I am pretty sure other members help him with arrangement). He became another pillar of this band's creativity.

12. Hell Tells No Lies
Another great song written by Markus. He and Weiki have been the carriers of the legacy of Helloween in recent albums. 

☆☆☆☆

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!

☆☆☆☆☆