Allen/Lande - The Showdown - review
Allen/Lande - The Showdown - review
Tracklist
01. The Showdown02. Judgement Day
03. Never Again
04. Turn All Into Gold
05. Bloodlines
06. Copernicus
07. We Will Rise Again
08. The Guardian
09. Maya
10. The Artist
11. Eternity
12. Alias [bonus]
A review by
Susan December 06, 2010
What keeps this album from being really exceptional is too many mid tempo tracks. There's just no speed! Some lovely ballads and lots of tunes that rock, but nothing that really gets you up and moving. Both Jorn and Russell are used to pumping it up and singing over faster music in their other bands and projects, so I don't know why this one seems to drag a bit. Despite this lack of variety in tempo, there are plenty of memorable hooks, great performances, and a good vibe throughout. And despite the fact that we're obviously here for the vocalists, there are some skilled guitar solos by multi-talented Magnus Karlsson, who has played guitar, bass, and keyboards on all Allen/Lande albums so far.
I love the catchy track "Turn All Into Gold," lead by Russell Allen; its more epic chorus does provide a bit of variety that the rest of the album lacks. "Bloodlines" (lead by Jorn) and "Never Again" (a seamless duet with both guys) also were some impressive tracks. These three lie near the beginning of the album, though, and give you a bit of a push through the rest of the tracklist, but there just isn't enough momentum to keep you from checking your watch near the end of the album.
It's a good album, but unless you're really in the mood for it, it just feels like a lot of mid-tempo heavy metal. Sometimes I have listened to this and really enjoyed it, even rocked out a bit, other times it felt borderline tedious. You just need to be in the mood, and then this will do the trick. If so, let Allen, Lande, and friends serenade you.
Comments
Comments:
10
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Posts: 1389  |
Posts: 1389
I agree 100%...a great album but only if you're in the right mood. That's how it is for me with this album.
----  Thanks to Corrupt for these banners!
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Posts: 4774
Haha, thanks for reviewing. I was kind of hesitating about whether to try this one out or not, but you just confirmed my suspicions on how it would turn out.
---- loves 小巫
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 Posts: 3523 |
Posts: 3523
Nice review  The vocals do mix well together. Not the kind of music that will ever move me because it doesn't even try to be unique, but no real complaints about the musicianship either.
---- "After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." - Aldous Huxley
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 Posts: 6941 |
Posts: 6941
Perfectly put, Jason. "doesn't even try to be unique" wish I'd thought of that line 
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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Posts: 1941  |
Posts: 1941
I never heard this album. The only Allen/Lande album I ever heard is "The Revenge". Really not my kind of music. When I listened to it, I didn't realize at first that both guys came from bands I don't like at all (Masterplan, Symphony X), as I don't care much for people involved in bands, especially bands I don't have any interest in. Had I known right from the start, I would not have bothered to give it a try. For me Allen/Lande falls in the same category as Ayreon, in the sense that I know some people really love it and consider it great but, personally, I'll never see the appeal in this kind of project. For me, it's just excrutiatingly dull.
---- They shake your hand and they smile and they buy you a drink They say we'll be your friends we'll stick with you till the end But everybody's only looking out for themselves And you say who can you trust I'll tell you nobody
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 Posts: 6675 |
Posts: 6675
I was hugely disappointed by this album when I heard it. Russell and Jorn have long been two of my fave metal singers, but the material on this album doesnt do either of their awesome voices any justice at all. They deserve much better material to work with IMO.
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Posts: 189  |
Posts: 189
I really like this album, They don't try to be unique indeed but they do what they do best!
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