I
don't quite understand all
this fuzz about "Tides",
Leverage's debut, and how difficult
it would be for them to outweigh
it. As far as I'm concerned,
their debut was a solid metal effort,
but it wasn't to be compared
with classics of the same genre,
like Masterplan's "Aeronautics",
for example. On the contrary, Leverage's
second album, "Blind Fire" has
the potential to carry out successfully,
as they have already developed their
sound in a big way. Leverage have
grown tighter, heaviest, but not
brutal, most intense and intimate.
In fact, there's a ton of energy
and more melodic metal harmonies
you couldn't beg for.
Pekka
Heino (also lead singer of Brother
Firetribe; you should check them out
pronto!) livens the songs with his
classy, soulful performance and it's
my conviction that he merits to be
considered as one of melodic metal's
best vocalists, second only to Jorn
Lande. Thomas Heikkinen, guitarist & main
composer, tried very hard and came
up with some very good ideas. For instance,
the songs structure is based in melodic
yet powerful arrangements, tinctured
with up-front prog keyboard layers
(great and inspired work by Marko Niskala),
remarkable sing-along refrains and
plenty (and I mean plenty) of smashing
guitar solos. Although, not every song
worth the same credit, songs like "Shadow
in the Rain" with its Kamelot-like
timbres, the sublime "Stormchild" that
brings back many memories of Yngwie
Malmsteen & early Europe, the spooky "Hellhorn" with
its predominated over Rainbow intro,
plus the huge chorused "Sentenced" and "Heart
Of Darkness" and finally the
power ballad "Don't Touch
The Sun" are the tracks that
really make the difference. It's
certainly an advantage that "Blind
Fire" is seconded by a more polished
production than their first release.
If they find a way out of some inexplicit
lyrics and continue improving in order
to gain more diversity, it will pay
off eventually.
To sum up, Leverage have managed
to create their own sound but there's
definitely room for further improvement.
In other words, allow me to have even
higher hopes for their 3rd release. |
