Band:	Uli Jon Roth
Album:	Under A Dark Sky
Style:	Neo-classical blues hard rock, Heavy metal
Release date:	September 22, 2008
A review by:	Jeff

01. S.O.S.
02. Tempus Fugit
03. Land Of Dawn
    1 - Techno Man
    2 - Land Of Dawn
    3 - Lion Wings
04. The Magic Word
05. Inquisition
06. Letter Of The Law
07. Stay In The Light
08. Benediction
09. Light & Shadows
10. Tanz In Die Dämmerung
    1 - Destination Twilight
    2 - Morgenrot
    3 - Searchlights From Hell
    4 - Seelenschmerz
    5 - Inside The Titanic
    6 - Fama Errat
    7 - Requiem For The Nations
    8 - Morituri
    9 - Rex Tremendae
    10 - Star Peace
    11 - Tanz In Die Dämmerung
    12 - Silence

It's never easy to write a review about one of Uli Jon Roth's releases for the simple reason that even if our guy is an amazing Rock/Metal guitarist, he doesn't really play Metal or even Hard Rock anymore. I'm not saying that his different projects are bad, at the opposite but if you're looking for pure Metal this is not "Under A Dark Sky", his last release, which will give you a lot of sensations. Be aware that this release is not a Metal release so if you're looking for great guitar parts it will be ok for you but if you're looking for riffs, just go away before that you become a new kind of modern Sleeping Beauty?

Honestly can you give me the name of someone who will pretend that Mr Uli Jon Roth is a bad guitarist? I don't think that we will have a lot of candidates because definitely this guy is a classy musician and you'll be able to see it one more time on his new release "Under A Dark Sky". Sure if you're looking for great guitars soli you'll have all what you want here but damn if you want rhythm, you'll be disappointed. I don't believe that Metal must be fast to be attractive, I use to listen to Doom and as you know this is not Speed Metal but I don't know "Under A Dark Sky" is just utterly boring for me. This album is well done of course but it looks more like a movie soundtrack instead of anything else. If you like Celine Dion and Titanic and think that we can add electric guitars on such music, it will be perfect for you. I'm a bit cynical and exaggerating of course but I still don't understand how this album can sound so old. It's a bit like if we were listening to an outdated 70's release, really Uli is able to do better albums.

I won't criticize the performances of the singers and musicians it's really good no doubt but damn why is it so soft and slow? From the beginning to the end you'll just listen to variety music with great guitars of course but that's not enough and even if Sky Choir and Sky Orchestra are impressive it will not save this album. On the other hand the production is amazing and the sound recording is just top-notch so after all if you're not looking for catchy songs and are just a fan of Uli Jon Roth you'll maybe not be disappointed?

Ok enough for today, I want to do a nap now and I will leave you here. So just remember that the new Uli Jon Roth is a really special release and that you'll have to love his previous work to really like it. Sorry for my rating but even if I admire the work of the musicians here, I just find "Under A Dark Sky" really boring... Maybe that for the fans it probably deserves more but well sorry this is just not for me?