PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Rage of Angels is the brainchild of original Ten keyboard player Ged Rylands,who played on their first three studio albums and the double live CD ‘Never Say Goodbye’. During his time in Ten, Ged took part in several very successful tours in Japan as well as playing on the highly praised 1996 debut album from Valentine singer Hugo, which was co-produced by Ten vocalist Gary Hughes. After leaving Ten, Ged went on to play with Contagious and guitar wizard Danny Danzi, and then after a ten year break raising his daughter alone, he returned to play on albums by Omega, Scar For Life and Lover Under Cover, before joining Tyketto in 2012 as a touring member of the band. However, during that ten year break Ged continued writing, the results of which can now be heard on ‘Dreamworld’.
Apart from Ged the band consists of vocalist David Reed Watson, additional guitars are done by Martin Kronlund, bass by Michael Carlsson and drums by Pera Johansson. Although this line up is not the same as the touring band, which is currently Ged Rylands, Danny Vaughn, Neil Fraser, Alan Barrow, Paul Hodson and Joao Colaco.
Then we move onto the many guests appearing on this album starting with the vocalists Robert Hart (Bad Company), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Harry Hess (Harem Scarem ), Danny Vaughn (Tyketto), Matti Alfonzetti (Impera, Red White and Blues, Jagged Edge) and David Reed Watson. That leaves the lead guitarists and they are Neil Fraser (Ten), Ralph Santolla (Deicide,Obituary, Iced Earth), Vinny Burns (Ten, Asia, Ultravox), and Tommy Denander. Quite a collection.
Dreamworld is an album full of traditional melodic rock with some having a near epic feel to them, as quite a few clock in at over 6 minutes. Having said that, the songs do not feel over long, and the whole record gells together nicely.
I had thought with so many different musicians and styles that the record would somehow miss a beat, be disjointed in such a way that they could be associated with Ten, Tyketto etc, however everybody pulls in the same direction to give the band an identity of its own, and that is not an easy task.
Dreamworld kicks this opus off, a nicely balanced mid paced track with Matti’s distinctive vocals adding a rich flavor to Ged’s attacking keyboard style.
Off all the tracks on here, ‘Over and Over’ is certainly the most radio friendly with Danny Vaughn, as is ‘Spinnin’ Wheel’ again with Danny.
There are a couple of ballads on here: Robert Hart sings the ballad ‘We Live, We Breathe, We Die’ superbly, and then totally rocks out on the powerful ‘Through It All’. However it is the 7 minute track ‘The Beating of Your Heart’ that win the honors, with a delicate piano arrangement and a stunning vocal performance from David Reed Watson who I had never heard off before today, he is on Reverbnation though, well worth checking out.
‘Falling’ is the gem on this album though, as it follow’s on from the instrumental ‘Prelude for the Gods’ this heads in hard rock territory with a gothic style keyboard opening, a great middle section, ending with an uplifting chorus.
‘Requiem for the Forgotten Soldier’ is a near 7 minute instrumental piece of epic proportions, as this features not one, but four guitar slingers. I must confess, one name, Ralph Santolla is a name I least expected, as he played in Thrash/Power band Iced Earth, as well as Deicide and Obituary.
The silence is broken by the drone of an Air Raid Siren before the guitars kick in over a stabbing drum beat, the solo’s build and build until it all stops due to a narrated middle section, the mood then lowers and the solo’s continue until we practically return full circle.
This is a very strong offering and this opus will appeal to so many people on so many levels, Ged is a tremendous songwriter and brings out the best in each musician, delivering a powerfull album of high quality songs.
Track list/Musicians.
01.Dreamworld
vocals : Matti Alfonzetti (Impera, Red White and Blues,Jagged Edge)
Lead guitar : Neil Fraser (Ten)
02.See You Walking By
vocals : Harry Hess ( Harem Scarem )
Lead guitar : Neil Fraser (Ten)
03.Through It All
vocals: Robert Hart (Bad Company)
Lead guitar : Neil Fraser (Ten)
04.Over and Over
vocals : Danny Vaughn (Tyketto)
Lead guitar : Neil Fraser (Ten)
05.Prelude for the Gods (instrumental)
06.Falling
Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear)
Lead guitar : Neil Fraser (Ten)
07.The Beating of Your Heart
Vocals: David Reed Watson
Lead guitar : Tommy Denander)
08.Spinnin Wheel
Vocals: Danny Vaughn (Tyketto)
Lead guitar : Neil Fraser (Ten)
09.Requiem for the Forgotten Soldier
Lead guitars: Ralph Santolla (Deicide,Obituary, Iced Earth)
Martin Kronlund (Lover Under Cover, Reece Kronlund),
Vinny Burns ( Ten, Asia, Ultravox), Xander Demos.
10.We Live, We Breathe, We Die
Vocals : Robert Hart (Bad Company)
Lead guitar: Vinny Burns (Ten, Asia, Ultravox)
