CAIN'S OFFERING - review added 3rd August 2009
Album Review: Gather The Faithful (2009)
For fans of: Symphonic Rock... and power metal... and 80's pop
Cain's Offering is the new project of Finnish guitarist/songwriter Jani Liimatainen (Sonata
Arctica, Altaria).
Jani left Sonata Arctica in 2007 and, drawing musical influence from both the classic hard rock scene and fast-paced European
power metal, formed this new band.
Joining him are vocalist Timo Kotipelto (Stratovarius, Kotipelto), keyboardist Mikko Harkin (Solution.45, Sonata Arctica), bassist Jukka Koskinen (Norther, Wintersun) and drummer Jani "Hurtsi" Hurula (Paul Di'Anno).
As far as Finnish rock is concerned, this is heading in the direction of an all-star line-up. Add that to the influences and you can't help but get excited. By rights this could be one of the releases of the year. You have to wonder therefore why it's something of a disappointment.
Don't get me wrong, the album has a great production and the performances, as you'd expect from the line-up, are breathtaking; but it borders on the understated and predictable. The style is Stratovarius meets Sonata Arctica meets... lots of other bands, but it majors on clever, not loveable.
'More Than Friends' is an intriguing song with a smearing of oomph. The key changes and musical meanderings make for an interesting song, although it never really gets anywhere. 'Oceans Of Regret' grows on you like a strangely beautiful wart. It's a meaty track with a bedrock of keyboards and heavy thrashy guitars. The chorus is more about mysticism than out-and-out catchiness, but it works well.
'Gather The Faithful' is an instrumental piece that starts like a beautiful ballad but morphs into a chugging slower number... then back and forth a few more times. It's built around a selection of clever orchestral movements and has an air of film score about it. 'Into the Blue' is a pleasant ballad with a chilled aura and some, er, unusual high notes. With the benefit of sleigh bells and a change of lyrics it would make a great Christmas rock song. It's a track that grows on you every time you hear it.
'Dawn Of Solace' is super quick - not unlike Dragonforce on fast forward. Mikko Harkin demonstrates what a superbly fast keyboard player he is. Surely one of the best in the business?! 'Thorn In My Side' is not the Eurythmics song. It sounds like Stratovarius from their 2005 self titled release. Timo's vocals own the track with knobs on, although not literally. Final track 'Elegantly Broken' is uncannily like 'Tell It To My Heart' by Taylor Dayne. I hope Cain's Offering paid, or at least asked very nicely, to use the lead riff because it's absolutely identical.
I don't like dissing albums like this. When you get a load of talented musicians together you always want the result to be mind blowing. So when it isn't, especially when the individual performances are amongst the best you'll hear all year, it's a major frustration. Gather The Faithful isn't a bad album, not by any means, it's just missing a bucket of originality and a few storming tracks. Plenty of people will enjoy it, but few are going to say "Wow!"
Check out... The final track and that Taylor Dayne song side by side...
Track List:
01. My Queen Of Winter
02. More Than Friends
03. Oceans Of Regret
04. Gather The Faithful
05. Into the Blue
06. Dawn Of Solace
07. Thorn In My Side
08. Morpheus In A Masquerade
09. Stolen Waters
10. Elegantly Broken
Label: Frontiers Records
Artist's website(s): Cain's Offering , MySpace
