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With Voices Of Rock you get a project with songs sung by the best hard rock / metal singers of these days. The project was started by Michael Voss (Mad Max, Casanova, Demon Drive, Silver) and Chris Lausmann (Bonfire) who are both known as producers. All songs been written by the dynamic duo who also produced the album as well as played on some tracks. Beside the duo Tommy Denander (Radioactive) and Angel Schleifer (Charade, ex-Pretty Maids, ex-Sinner, ex-Bonfire) on guitars and on drums Bertram Engel (Peter Maffay band, Udo Lindenberg band).
The opening track is called Voodoo Woman and is sung by House Of Lords master James Christian. A powerful melodic metal tune with a bombastic edge. Sharp riffs kick off Wild Thing with Jean Beauvoir. The melody soon hooks you up. The former Plasmatics bassist worked with Steve Van Zandt and wrote music for artists like Tina Turner, Eurythmics and Bruce Springsteen as well as for several blockbuster movies. With Crown Of Thorns he got some attention and through the years he did some guest performances - e.g. Doro's Sister Darkness (off Fight; co-written by him and he added some guitar parts) - and is now part of Voices Of Rock. The song is a cool rocker and I hope that we soon here more from Mr. Beauvoir! With Nightingale it slows down a bit. This powerful, balladesque tune is sung by Terry Brock (Slamer, ex-Kansas, ex-Strangeways, ex-The Sign) who adds some emotional vocals. What I miss is a catchy hook... The chorus is quite typical 80's melodic metal with a mighty backing vocals. I was very curious to hear Over And Over with Dan Reed adding the vocal parts, coz I really love the stuff he did with Dan Reed Network - long ago. His voice fits well to this mid-tempo rocker, but I miss a bit what the Dan Reed Network sound... I though he would be able to make his mark on this one. Johnny Gioeli made his first step into the spotlight with Hardline in the early 90's. Now he's more known for his work with German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell. Gioeli has a unique voice and so the song Phoenix Rising sounds like one of his own. An ear catcher! A killer track and the first real highlight on MMVII! Irresistible is starting off slowly and with an unusual drum pattern... A heavy rocker with some keyboard line which adds a symphonic touch to this one. The delicate vocals of Harry Hess (Harem Scarem) make this song irresistible. Göran Edman (Street Talk, ex-Malmsteen) delivers the vocal parts for China In Your Hands which has a poppy touch.... Easy to sing along. Singer Robin Beck everybody knows for her song First Time which got attention through a Coca-Cola commercial. Robin Beck is the only woman on this project and she sings Underloved which is a nice rock tune with some heavy riffing. Melodic metal with a bit bombast you get with Slip Away which is sung by Steve Overland (Shadowman, FM, The Ladder). This one would be a hit in the late 80's / early 90's! A touching rock ballad! Last, but not least Love Is Blind with Gary Barden (Silver, ex-Praying Mantis, ex-Statetrooper) who got first attention with MSG and is now pursuing a solo career. Heavy riffs opening up to a heavy melodic metal rocker. The vocals are catchy and emotional. Cool tune!
A great project which should be continued, even if there are only 2-3 real highlights, but all songs are on a very high level and so I can recommend this album to all hard rock / melodic metal fans! This is a must-buy!
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