EMPIRES OF EDEN - review added 29th May 2012
Album Review: Channelling The Infinite (2012)
For fans of: Power Metal
"Channelling The Infinite" is the third album from Empires Of Eden, a band/project created by Australian shredder Stu Marshall. The format is similar to the other releases, meaning Stu creates the music, then various metal vocalists put their words, melodies and voices to it. On each album the cast list has got better, and this time sees names like Udo Dirkschneider, Rob Rock, Mike Dimeo, Ronny Munroe, and Alessandro Del Vecchio added to the fray.
The sound is similar to what came before, meaning a big dose of Stu's incredible guitar playing which flits freely between power metal, thrash and neoclassical. He really is a guitar demi-god and should be much better known everywhere by everyone.
The songs are generally big over-the-top numbers with more theatricals than London's West End. As before some work and so some don't. And as before that quite often comes down to the performances of the vocalists. Some of the guys here just don't sound good on this type of music.
The better moments include Sean Peck's turn on the title track, Carlos Zema on 'Cyborg', the music and to a lesser extent Vo Simpson's singing on 'As Flames Scorch The Ground', and Sean Peck again for his return on bonus track 'Born a King', which is much better than the regular album version featuring Danny Cecati.
In Summation:
I said it on the last album and I'll say it again this time. Get Sean Peck and Carlos Zema to do the whole thing. They kick everyone else's arse at this sort of thing. With both of them throughout this album would have been good. As it is, the songs aren't as strong as last time and the end result is rather disappointing, even allowing for the amazing guitar playing.
Entertainment/Enjoyment:
Musicianship:
Vocals:
Song Writing:
Production:
Overall (Not An Average Of The Above):
Track List:
1. Cry Out (feat. Rob Rock)
2. Hammer Down (feat. UDO)
3. This Time (feat. Steve Grimmett)
4. Channelling the Infinite (feat. Sean Peck)
5. Lions For Lambs (feat. Alessandro Del Vecchio)
6. Cyborg (feat. Carlos Zema)
7. World on Fire (feat. Louie Gorgievksi)
8. Your Eyes (feat. Mike Dimeo)
9. Born a King (feat. Danny Cecati)
10. As Flames Scorch The Ground (feat. Vo Simpson)
11. White Wings (feat. Ronny Munroe
)
12. Hammer Down All star version (Bonus) (feat. various)
13. Born a King (bonus) (feat. Sean Peck)
Band/Performers:
Stu Marshall
Udo Dirkschneider (Accept, U.D.O.)
Rob Rock (Impellitteri, Driver)
Steve Grimmett (Grim Reaper, Lionsheart)
Mike Dimeo (Masterplan / Riot)
Sean Peck (Cage)
Carlos Zema (Outworld, Vougan)
Ronny Munroe (TSO, Metal Church)
Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge of Forever)
Danny Cecati (Eyefear, Pegazus)
Louie Gorgievski (Crimsonfire)
Vo Simpson.(Darker Half)
Other Info:
Artist's website(s): Empires Of Eden | MySpace | Facebook
