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September 7, 2008 |
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01. Rise From The Fall
02. Heaven
03. Tell Me
04. Chained
05. Who's Foolin' Who
06. Now Or Never
07. Two Hearts
08. Invention #13
09. Leave
10. Live For The Sacred
11. Vivaldi Winter
12. Run For Your Life
13. Flight Of The Bumblebee
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"Chained" is AT VANCE's seventh album, and the title is an apt one. Not only is the band "chained”" creatively, unwilling to challenge themselves or their fanbase, but as a music reviewer, I too was in bondage. I had to brave this not-so brave album from start to finish. It's ironic that the band's name sounds like "ADVANCE", because they do nothing to push the genre of metal forward. Therein lies problem 1.
Problem 2: the promo version is messed up. For reasons unknown, "Rise From The Fall" and "Chained" appear twice on the album. A surprising amount of time elapsed before I even realized that I was listening to songs I had just heard moments ago. Another issue is that each song cuts out about thirty seconds before its actual end. Labels often use this trick in hopes of thwarting pirates. Is piracy a problem in the music industry? No question. But do you know what's an even bigger problem? There are way too many bands, releasing way too many albums. Consumers have a finite amount of money, and it's offensive that there are so many releases shoehorned into the market, siphoning sales away from bands who actually deserve support. In a perfect world, TAROT would put out more albums and SKYCLAD wouldn't need day jobs.
Mats Leven, former-YNGWIE vocalist #312, has a decent set of pipes, but who doesn't in power metal these days? His mellower vocals sound more like going through the motions than genuine feeling. Guitarist Olaf Lenk is influenced by early-MALMSTEEM, which means that, technically, he has the chops. Unfortunately, his solos aren't that memorable. "Rise From The Fall" is an adequate opener; overall, the band is at their best on these speedier numbers. "Heaven" has a chorus so wimpy, the BACKSTREET BOYS would point and laugh. "Live For The Sacred" is lifeless, and you'd think that a song called "Two Hearts" would do more to get the blood pumping.
Classical interludes are no longer the bold inclusions they used to be, but the two on this album work well. On "Intervention #13", the guitars are subtle and the bass has room to breathe. "Vivaldi Winter" is as much a tribute to Yngwie as it is to the composer. "Run For Your Life" is junk food speed metal with an aggressive flare, but just as the song gets going and the album gains a bit of momentum, AFM Records steps in and decides to cut things short (on the promo version).
When I was growing up, I'd buy a MAIDEN album, flip through the booklet, examine the artwork, and spongily soak up every note and lyric. It's a feeling I rarely have these days, and bands like AT VANCE are the problem. When you throw on an AT VANCE album, you don't like it, you don't hate it - the disc just spins until you're an hour older. Nowadays, I find myself going back and spending money on old classics like "Stay Hungry", back when bands actually were hungry.
Closing remarks? If you are a singer who can sing, and you know a guitarist who can play (or vice versa), and you're thinking about starting a melodic metal band - STOP unless you have something new to offer. Otherwise, in the words of Martin Walkyier, you'll just be "A Well Beside The River".
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