WICKED SENSATION - review added 22nd June 2010
Album Review: Crystallized (2010)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and insanely catchy tunes
Wicked Sensation - Robert Soeterboek on vocals, Michael Klein on guitar, Dennis Ward on bass and production duty, Dirk Bruinenberg on drums, and Bernd Spitzner on keyboards - was founded in 1999 by Michael Klein and Sang Vong, both veterans of the German band Vast.
Their first album "Reflected" was released in 2001 on the now defunct MTM Music label and collected numerous fine reviews. After a line-up change, “Exceptional” soon followed. Several years down the line and, following another reshuffle, "Crystallized" - the band's third release - is finally getting a release. And rather good news that is too.
This is a big album with a great sound and a bunch of über catchy tracks. The sound is massively hooky and often truly memorable, but it also carries a substantial weight behind it. This is music that charms your speakers and then blows the cr*p out of them.
Best moments include the superb 1980s influenced 'My Turn To Fly', a song that features current Helloweeen vocalist Andi Deris, the contagious 'Fistful Of Dreams', the groovy Giant-esque 'Give It Up', the Magnum-influenced 'Love To Play', the spunky 'Gimme The Night', the very David Coverdale sounding 'The Love I Used To Know', the semi-progressive 'Running Through Your Veins', and the brooding final track 'Bleeding Hearts'.
Overall, there isn't a lot not to like here. "Crystallized" really is a bloody good release. What else can you say?!
Check out... All of it.
Track List:
01. Better World
02. My Turn To Fly
03. Fistful Of Dreams
04. Give It Up
05. Lost In A World
06. Love To Play
07. Gimme The Night
08. Am I Right
09. Lonely Is The Night
10. Ordinary Man
11. The Love I Used To Know
12. Running Through Your Veins
13. Bleeding Hearts
Label: Metal Heaven
Artist's website(s): Wicked Sensation | MySpace
