Allen/Lande - The Great Divide

This is album is totally like Stratovarius with Allen/Lande vocals. However, I'm not surprised. Everything that Timo Tolkki touches lately turns into similar-sounding unoriginal music. Can't wait to write a review about it, revealing all the self-ripped-off parts, like one of the riffs Hymn To The Fallen which is actually a riff from Strato's "Eternity".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=946fyTTF5zQ

Good epic one, as all his works, his voice is damn great and he knows how to work whit emotions

Is a nice album, but nothing memorable. Generic Tolkki average stuff. Maybe the 5 first songs are the most worth of all. At least for TT is an improvement (in some way) over his last solo disappointment.

2nd song sounds like Judas Priest. And I'm sure the 3rd was recycled from the Tolkki's last album.

Timo Tolkki done this album great, Magnus Karlsson was a great guitarist and songwriter but it's OK that we don't have him on this one! especially because Jørn Lande write a lot of stuffs in this one!
The best song of this album is "Down From The Mountain" and my precise rating is "8.6".

I have to say it really is a massive let down to know that the song writer/guitarist has changed.
The previous albums are absolute works of art, with some of the most stunning melodies and vocal parts I have ever heard from Jorn and Russel out of all of their discographies. The difference in emotional depth and vulnerability is simply undeniable.

That being said, I guess it makes the most sense for the two singers to try singing along to other musician's work at this point. In the end I'm just glad to hear these guys singing together again, and to hear Russel's soft vocals like early Symphony X. It's also worth noting that Jorn did some song writing here. The performances are fantastic. Surely it will grow on me with more listens.

Not as good as the first two cd´s, but still a very consistent one. Two amazing voices mixed together, a fantastic Metal duo.