Place Vendome: Thunder in the Distance

album by:
Place Vendome
Version:
CD
Price:
£11.03

Reviewed by:
Rating:
3
On 23 November 2013
Last modified:30 August 2015

Summary:

Thunder in the Distance is a beautifully written and well produced album showcasing Kiske's amazing vocal range. Mainly love songs and ballads which will appeal to fans of softer rock bands such as Foreigner and Journey.

Thunder in the Distance is the third album from melodic hard rock project Place Vendome. Released by Frontiers Records on 1st November 2013, Place Vendome being the brainchild of their President, Serafino Perugino. Fronted by Michael Kiske former vocalist for German rock band Helloween and alos for Avantasia and Unisonic. Bass player Dennis Ward mixed and produced the album with songs written by amongst others Magnus Karlsson, Timo Tolkki (ex-Stratovarius), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline) and Tommy Denander (Radioactive).

This is definitely power metal, an album packed with melodic power ballads which would come across well on the big stage. Talk to Me starts off with a violin intro. Violin infused rock music always reminds me of ELO’s Turn to Stone and memories of the air violin! This definitely had an orchestral quality albeit a rock orchestra. Lost in Paradise is a slower song with a hypnotic drumbeat and keyboards and it reminded me a little of Ultravox’s Vienna, which whilst not a rock classic is a classic song. It Can’t Rain Forever had essences of Nelson’s After the Rain. The highlight track for me is Fragile Ground, starting off slowly with a keyboard intro before the rhythm picks up with a powerful drumbeat and some Whitesnake style riffs.

Thunder in the Distance is a beautifully written and well produced album showcasing Kiske’s amazing vocal range. Mainly love songs and ballads which will appeal to fans of softer rock bands such as Foreigner and Journey.

Place Vendome: Thunder in the Distance (Album Artwork)
Place Vendome: Thunder in the Distance (Album Artwork)

Band Members:
Michael Kiske – Vocals
Dennis Ward – Bass guitar
Uwe Reitenauer – Guitars
Gunther Werno – Keyboards
Dirk Bruinenberg – Drums

Track List:
1. Talk to Me
2. Power of Music
3. Broken Wings
4. Lost in Paradise
5. It Can’t Rain Forever
6. Fragile Ground
7. Hold Your Love
8. Never Too Late
9. Heaven Lost
10. My Heart Is Dying
11. Break Out
12. Maybe Tomorrow
13. Thunder in the Distance

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Place-vendome/177275002336147

 

 

Thunder in the Distance is a beautifully written and well produced album showcasing Kiske's amazing vocal range. Mainly love songs and ballads which will appeal to fans of softer rock bands such as Foreigner and Journey.

About Louise Swift

I first went to a gig in 1981, Gillan at Leeds University. I've been a regular gig goer ever since. I haven't kept count of how many gigs I've been to over the intervening years, but it's a lot! My favourite bands are AC/DC then, in no particular order, Anti-Nowhere League, Slaughter and the Dogs, Towers of London and Dirt Box Disco. I tend to like Glam/Punk and rude offensive lyrics, not sure what that says about me but as Animal would say 'So What!' The question was recently put to me - did I write for any online publications? My reply - No, but I'd like to! Planetmosh was suggested and I found myself offering to review Aces High Festival. Easy peasy I thought! Well not quite, if a jobs worth doing it's worth doing well! I had sixteen bands to research. I found I actually enjoyed that and it kept me too busy to be making lunatic comments on Facebook! ;) Then I felt a bit inadequately qualified. I mean, who am I to comment on others, when my musical expertise extends to being able to play a mean Greensleeves on the recorder and a passable Annie's song on the flute! Haven't picked up either instrument for years! What I do have, however, is over 30 years of experience as a gig goer, so I can comment on what I like and what I don't! It's only my opinion and, if I don't like a band it doesn't mean they are bad, just not to my own liking. I admire anyone who has the guts to get up on that stage and have a go!