Already a contender for album of the year!

It might only be January but I am prepared to bet this is going to be my album of the year! If melodic hard rock is your thing (and if it’s not why are you reading this?) then you are going to love Rage of Angels. The brainchild of former Ten and current Tyketto live keyboard man Ged Rylands, this is an absolute classic.

Featuring Vocals from Harry Hess, Robert Hart, Danny Vaughn, Ralf Scheepers, David Reed Watson and Matt Alfonzetti along with guitaring from ex Ten six-stringer Neil Fraser and guest appearances from the always brilliant Vinny Burns and Ralph Santolla plus Tommy Denander, this is rock fan’s wet dream!

But what about the songs? Well from the opening intro of robotic child voices which leads into the majestic cruising ‘Dreamworld’, this sets the standard for all that follows with its rocking but memorable tempo and hook. Comparisons are pointless as you only need to look at the names involved to know the kind of quality music here. ‘See You Walking By’ is catchy and slightly poppy but still rocks well more akin to late Harem Scarem and with Harry Hess on vox too! ‘Through It All’ is another surging powerful rock song in the mould of classic Ten before we are into ‘Over and Over’, featuring Danny Vaughn, which is a favourite of mine. The song is catchy as hell and with a real sense of joy about it, possibly evinced by Danny chuckling at the outro – a great song indeed.

Short instrumental Requiem for The Gods is next leading into ‘Falling’ a huge epic mid pocket rocker, my only gripe on the whole album is that Ralf Scheepers voice whilst technically excellent is not melodic enough for this material and as such I would have preferred to hear Danny Vaughn on this song but it really is just a personal preference as ‘Falling’ is excellent [Wait for the live shows Nikky!! – Ed].

Any gripes are immediately forgotten though with ‘The Beating Of Your Heart’ which is an atmospheric semi ballad with wonderful guitar from Tommy Denander and an achingly beautiful bridge, chorus and arrangement. This is a genuine 5 star classic song somewhere between Dream Theatre’s ‘Hollow Man’ and many of Gary Moore’s ballads; really truly beautiful.

Next up is the bouncy ‘Spinning Wheel’ which is vaguely reminiscent of type of stuff Europe and Tyketto released last year with a nod to classic Y&T. Very catchy and  possible choice for a single, maybe in edited form?

And so to the music that will have every one of you absolutely gobsmacked!! First up is ‘Requiem for a Forgotten Soldier’. Starting with the sound of distant gunfire and air raid sirens a military drum beat begins before the guitar roars in soloing beautifully and then another guitar solo takes over. What we have here is essentially a guitar battle between Ralph Santolla and Vinny Burns and what a battle it is. We all know that these guys are geniuses on the guitar but the overwrought power and emotion in the playing here is breathtaking.  Voice clips from political leaders discussing the onset of wars provide the backing for more fret board heroics as both guitarists really let fly before peace breaks out and the music segues into the intro for ‘We Live, We Breathe, We Die’. Robert Hart has often been compared to Paul Rogers, and there is a similarity in their voices, but here the quality and depth of his voice is incredible, as is the refrain, the bridge, the instrumentation, the lyrics and the many twists and turns in this most epic power ballad. For me this is simply the best song I have heard for years and years! The sentiment and power of the song is overwhelming and I guess this is what it must have felt like when reviewers first hear classics from Zep, Purple etc back in the day? You know instantly that you are hearing something very special, timeless even, a sure fire classic for generations to come with Vinny Burns turning in his best work ever soloing off into the sunset as I reach for the repeat button.

I have no superlatives to describe this album suffice it to say that if you  don’t get a copy as soon as it is released you will be missing out on the best melodic rock album in years and the start of something very big indeed if there is any justice in this world?!  A STONE COLD CLASSIC ALBUM

Nikky Tylar