Nuclear Blast Allstars
It's review time again. This time it's the Metal compilation Nuclear Blast Allstars - Into the Light. For those who don't know, Nuclear Blast is a record label that's celebrating its 20 anniversary this year. Rage guitarist Victor Smolski thought it would be a good idea to gather singers from the Nuclear Blast roster to sing on various songs penned by him and Rage singer Peavy Wagner. The result is the album I'm about to review song by song :)
1. Dirty Wings (with Tobias Sammet)- Well they chose a good song to kick off the CD with. Then again, Tobi could sing the friggin' German phone book and it would still be good. The song itself is very catchy and lively. Kind of like a heavier Edguy song played by the members of Rage. (8.5/10)
2. Terrified (with Peavy Wagner) - Basically this is the band Rage playing on this song. I admittedly don't know much about Rage so I can't tell you how it compares to their other stuff. I think the song is ok but not as good as the others. The music is top notch though. (6.5/10)
3. Ruling the World (with Tony Kakko) - Tony is the singer of the band Sonata Arctica which I've only heard a few songs by. The song starts out with a frantic piano part and never really lets up from there. Tony's voice can get a bit annoying in the middle but it's not too bad. The piano is the real highlight for me. (7/10)
4. Death is Alive (with Mats Leven) - Mats sings for the band Therion but I know him from his singing on the Yngwie Malmsteen album Facing the Animal. Too bad he only lasted one album with Yngwie but I digress. The song is very haunting from the get go and considering the lyrics are lamenting about the loss of friends it's to be expected. It gets a bit heavy in the middle for dramatic effect which is very cool. The female vocals that accompany Mats on the choruses are very well done and thankfully she doesn't overpower him. (8/10)
5. Bloodsuckers (with Marcel Schirmer) - Marcel is from the thrash band Destruction which I've never heard anything by. Though it's not a surprise that this song is the heaviest of the album. It's your basic thrash song with good riffing on the part of Victor Smolski. (6.5/10)
6. Slaves to the Desert (with Hansi Kursch) - It should come as no surprise to anyone that Hansi's song is my favorite of the album. And not because it's Hansi but how his voice sounds on it. It's so different from the Blind Guardian songs. Yes, there's still some screaming here or there but the way he approached it was very refreshing for me. According to the notes under Hansi's picture in the booklet, Hansi claims the song was written for a James LaBrie (Dream Theater) type of voice. I don't doubt that at all but Hansi does make it his own. (10/10)
7. A Perfect Day (with Andi Deris) - Yep, the singer of Helloween. As everyone who reads my journal knows, I'm not an Andi fan at all. Imagine my surprise when I heard the second best song he's ever sung on playing through my speakers. The first is "To the Quasar" on the Ayreon album Flight of the Migrator. Anyway, this song was definitely crafted with Andi's voice in mind and it comes out damn near perfect. This is how modern Helloween should sound in my mind. (9/10)
8. Eternally (with Oddleif Stensland) - Oddleif is from the Norwegian progressive band Communic. I've never heard of the band myself so I can't tell you what they sound like in comparison to this song. Though I don't think I will be checking them out judging by the awful singing of Oddleif. It's dull to be perfectly honest. Then again, there is always one song on an album that is less than stellar. This would be the one. (0/10)
9. Inner Sanctuary (with Marco Hietala) - Marco is the bassist/male vocalist for Nightwish and Tarot. It's not a bad song and his vocals are ok. Though the chorus is very catchy and keyboards swirl throughout. (7/10)
10. In the Picture (with Tarja Turunen) - The CD ends with a song by Nightwish's former vocalist. I'll frankly admit I can't stand Nightwish or Tarja's voice. I'm very particular when it comes to female vocalists and tend to shy away from ones channeling opera singers. Surprising, her vocals on this song aren't half bad. The song starts out with haunting piano and a sad guitar riff before picking up in tempo. She manages to hold back from her typical high pitched vocals which makes my ears very happy. A good ending to the album. (7/10)
There was a bonus disc included and I will do a quicky review for the songs:
1. Hammerfall - Hearts on Fire: Same version as the one on their album Crimson Thunder. The song still sucks though.
2. Helloween - The Madness of the Crowds: A bonus track from the Dark Ride album. Not a bad song. In fact, it's the second best on the bonus disc. Go figure.
3. Gotthard - El Traidor: Never heard of this band but the song is all in Spanish as you can gather from the title. I think it translates as "The Traitor" but I could be wrong. Anyway, this is the best song on the bonus disc. I can only describe it as a very late 80's song complete with Bon Jovi-like "wah wah" vocal box thingy.
4. After Forever - Sweet Enclosure: A good song by the Dutch band. I still need to get their new album. Oops.
5. Ride the Sky - New Protection: Ah, Uli's ode/slam to Helloween. I can't figure out which at the moment. The song is similar to the ones I've heard on their myspace. The vocalist still sounds like a clone of Jorn and the music is still just ok. Meh.
6. Thunderstone - Forevermore: Never heard of this band but they aren't too bad music-wise. The vocals remind me of a mix of Russell Allen and Andi Deris. Kind of an odd mix if you think about it.
7. Threshold - Slipstream: Admittedly I haven't been listening to the modern version of Threshold. I loved their earlier stuff with Damian. Anyway, this song is pretty catchy and the music is rocking. I might just get their new album if this is what I'm going to hear :)
8. Amorphis - The Smoke: Boring as all hell.
9. Candlemass - Devil Seed: Same as above.
10. Sirenia - The Other Side: Same as above.
Well, it's started out good and ended craptastic. Such is life.
1. Dirty Wings (with Tobias Sammet)- Well they chose a good song to kick off the CD with. Then again, Tobi could sing the friggin' German phone book and it would still be good. The song itself is very catchy and lively. Kind of like a heavier Edguy song played by the members of Rage. (8.5/10)
2. Terrified (with Peavy Wagner) - Basically this is the band Rage playing on this song. I admittedly don't know much about Rage so I can't tell you how it compares to their other stuff. I think the song is ok but not as good as the others. The music is top notch though. (6.5/10)
3. Ruling the World (with Tony Kakko) - Tony is the singer of the band Sonata Arctica which I've only heard a few songs by. The song starts out with a frantic piano part and never really lets up from there. Tony's voice can get a bit annoying in the middle but it's not too bad. The piano is the real highlight for me. (7/10)
4. Death is Alive (with Mats Leven) - Mats sings for the band Therion but I know him from his singing on the Yngwie Malmsteen album Facing the Animal. Too bad he only lasted one album with Yngwie but I digress. The song is very haunting from the get go and considering the lyrics are lamenting about the loss of friends it's to be expected. It gets a bit heavy in the middle for dramatic effect which is very cool. The female vocals that accompany Mats on the choruses are very well done and thankfully she doesn't overpower him. (8/10)
5. Bloodsuckers (with Marcel Schirmer) - Marcel is from the thrash band Destruction which I've never heard anything by. Though it's not a surprise that this song is the heaviest of the album. It's your basic thrash song with good riffing on the part of Victor Smolski. (6.5/10)
6. Slaves to the Desert (with Hansi Kursch) - It should come as no surprise to anyone that Hansi's song is my favorite of the album. And not because it's Hansi but how his voice sounds on it. It's so different from the Blind Guardian songs. Yes, there's still some screaming here or there but the way he approached it was very refreshing for me. According to the notes under Hansi's picture in the booklet, Hansi claims the song was written for a James LaBrie (Dream Theater) type of voice. I don't doubt that at all but Hansi does make it his own. (10/10)
7. A Perfect Day (with Andi Deris) - Yep, the singer of Helloween. As everyone who reads my journal knows, I'm not an Andi fan at all. Imagine my surprise when I heard the second best song he's ever sung on playing through my speakers. The first is "To the Quasar" on the Ayreon album Flight of the Migrator. Anyway, this song was definitely crafted with Andi's voice in mind and it comes out damn near perfect. This is how modern Helloween should sound in my mind. (9/10)
8. Eternally (with Oddleif Stensland) - Oddleif is from the Norwegian progressive band Communic. I've never heard of the band myself so I can't tell you what they sound like in comparison to this song. Though I don't think I will be checking them out judging by the awful singing of Oddleif. It's dull to be perfectly honest. Then again, there is always one song on an album that is less than stellar. This would be the one. (0/10)
9. Inner Sanctuary (with Marco Hietala) - Marco is the bassist/male vocalist for Nightwish and Tarot. It's not a bad song and his vocals are ok. Though the chorus is very catchy and keyboards swirl throughout. (7/10)
10. In the Picture (with Tarja Turunen) - The CD ends with a song by Nightwish's former vocalist. I'll frankly admit I can't stand Nightwish or Tarja's voice. I'm very particular when it comes to female vocalists and tend to shy away from ones channeling opera singers. Surprising, her vocals on this song aren't half bad. The song starts out with haunting piano and a sad guitar riff before picking up in tempo. She manages to hold back from her typical high pitched vocals which makes my ears very happy. A good ending to the album. (7/10)
There was a bonus disc included and I will do a quicky review for the songs:
1. Hammerfall - Hearts on Fire: Same version as the one on their album Crimson Thunder. The song still sucks though.
2. Helloween - The Madness of the Crowds: A bonus track from the Dark Ride album. Not a bad song. In fact, it's the second best on the bonus disc. Go figure.
3. Gotthard - El Traidor: Never heard of this band but the song is all in Spanish as you can gather from the title. I think it translates as "The Traitor" but I could be wrong. Anyway, this is the best song on the bonus disc. I can only describe it as a very late 80's song complete with Bon Jovi-like "wah wah" vocal box thingy.
4. After Forever - Sweet Enclosure: A good song by the Dutch band. I still need to get their new album. Oops.
5. Ride the Sky - New Protection: Ah, Uli's ode/slam to Helloween. I can't figure out which at the moment. The song is similar to the ones I've heard on their myspace. The vocalist still sounds like a clone of Jorn and the music is still just ok. Meh.
6. Thunderstone - Forevermore: Never heard of this band but they aren't too bad music-wise. The vocals remind me of a mix of Russell Allen and Andi Deris. Kind of an odd mix if you think about it.
7. Threshold - Slipstream: Admittedly I haven't been listening to the modern version of Threshold. I loved their earlier stuff with Damian. Anyway, this song is pretty catchy and the music is rocking. I might just get their new album if this is what I'm going to hear :)
8. Amorphis - The Smoke: Boring as all hell.
9. Candlemass - Devil Seed: Same as above.
10. Sirenia - The Other Side: Same as above.
Well, it's started out good and ended craptastic. Such is life.