The previous album from Rob Rock 'Holy Hell' didn't do much
for me, and went under in the massive flow of power metal releases,
and my initial listens went pretty much in the same direction.
However the album sounded more rounded and more mature, so I gave it
a few spins more in my much tested CD-player, a wise decision in
retrospect.
Rob
Rock
is one of the most underrated vocalists in metal, and his vocal
signature makes many of the albums he has worked on in the past a
special experience. He has been a part of such various bands as Axel
Rudi Pell, M.A.R.S., Impellitteri, Warrior and Joshua, and he has
been pursuing a solo-career since 2000, 'Garden of Chaos' is his
fourth solo album.
On 'Garden of Chaos' he is supported by the whole Narnia line-up
(singer excluded) on most of the album; Bobby Jarzombek is playing
drums on "This Time is the Last Time". Rob wrote 7
of the 11 tracks (including the Japanese bonus track 'Ride the
Wind') with long-time partner Roy Z, who is also handling the
production of 2 of the songs. The title track was co-written by Rob
with Gus G. (Firewind), while the rest was written together with CJ
Grimmark, Bob Rossi, and Liza Rock. Rob and CJ Grimmark took care of
the production of the rest of the songs, and they went to Denmark to
the Hansen Studios and Jacob Hansen for the mixing and mastering
process.
Like everything CJ Grimmark is
involved in, this is guitar-driven power metal with balls and paired
with Rob's unique voice it results in a very European sounding power
metal album with a few splashes of thrash metal. The general feel in
harder and faster, with plenty of room for catchy choruses and
brilliant guitar leads from CJ Grimmark.
The album is straight ahead, fast
and furious for most parts, before things slows down at the end with
the two closing ballads, which also happens to be the songs that
falls into the category fillers. Two fine ballads, but really
nothing special compared with the level the first eight songs bring
to the table.
'Garden of Chaos' is a fine, well
produced, played and very well sung first class power metal album,
one which should have no problems convincing even the hardest
doubters.
Good one!
