TOBY HITCHCOCK - review added 12th August 2011
Album Review: Mercury Down (2011)
For fans of: Hard Rock
Toby Hitchcock is best known as the lead singer on the superb albums by Pride of Lions, pet project of ex-Survivor member Jim Peterik. HIs voice on those releases is frankly astonishing, so it's a surprise it has taken this long for the man to go it alone. Fortunately the powers that be have now seen common sense. And the result is this...
"Mercury Down" sees Toby teaming up with Swedish songwriter and producer Erik Martensson, known for his work with Eclipse and W.E.T.. That is seemingly the sum total of people involved. The richness of sound and the quality of songs they create is therefore amazing. The bounty of depth on the album suggests a whole legion of musicians. Some people really are far too talented!
The sound itself is wall-of-sound melodious rock. Okay, it doesn't have the raw character that 1970s and 1980s LPs boasted, but for unadulterated slickness "Mercury Down" is hard to beat.
Song wise, opener 'This Is The Moment' is a cracking effort - big, lively and memorable. 'Strong Enough' is a racy anthem that's so sing-along it hurts. 'How To Stop' is nice enough, and better than the best songs on some other albums. Here, it's outclassed by the first couple of tracks. The mid-tempo 'Let Go' is back on the money in a big way, featuring a hu-massive chorus. 'One Day I’ll Stop Loving You' is a wonderful ballad with more than enough emotion to tug at all the strings one body can offer. 'I Should Have Said' is a fun speedy effort, again a notch away from the best but brilliant anyway.
Same goes for 'If It's To Be (It's Up To Me)' and 'Just Say Goodbye'. They don't quite touch the stratosphere, but it's very hard to criticise them either. 'Summer Nights In Cabo' gets things back on track. It's got a great feel to the words and a lovely sound. 'Tear Down The Barricades' heavies up, even boasting a few double kicks. AOR doesn't get much more metal. 'A Different Drum' is one of the album's better moments and another sing-along belter. The title track closes the album, and what a fine finish it is...perhaps a tad close to Journey's "Separate Ways', but we love it anyway.
In Summation:
Brilliant performances, perhaps a few masterpiece-tracks short of classic status, but a very, very good album nonetheless. This should keep you going just long enough until next year's rumoured 4th Pride Of Lions album.
Entertainment/Enjoyment:
Musicianship:
Vocals:
Song Writing:
Production:
Overall (Not An Average Of The Above):
Track List:
01. This Is The Moment
02. Strong Enough
03. How To Stop
04. Let Go
05. One Day I’ll Stop Loving You
06. I Should Have Said
07. If It's To Be (It's Up To Me)
08. Just Say Goodbye
09. Summer Nights In Cabo
10. Tear Down The Barricades
11. A Different Drum
12. Mercury's Down
Band/Performers:
Toby Hitchcock – Lead Vocals
Erik Martensson – All Instruments
Other Info:
Produced and written by Erik Martensson
Label: Frontiers Records
