Band:	Wicked Sensation
Album:	Exceptional
Style:	Hard rock, Melodic heavy metal
Release date:	April 26, 2004
A review by:	Malcolm

01. Intro
02. Shining Light
03. Back To My Bed
04. We Arise
05. Your Beat Inside My Heart
06. The One You Love Ain't Me
07. Exceptional
08. Kiss it Away
09. Dying With The Wind
10. Time Will Pass Me by
11. My Own Misery
12. Rain On Me

Wicked Sensation is a new acquaintance for me and is here releasing their second album, that's a good melodic Hardrock album, that have potential to gain some new fans to the band, even if the music isn't so very original.

Wicked Sensation was formed back in 1999 by guitarists Michael Klein and Sang Vong.
And after some recordings and line-up changes the band recorded their debut album, "Reflected" in 2001 and many famous people was behind the recording and producing of that album, such as Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, ex- Vengeance), Damian Wilson (Rick Wakeman Band, ex- Threshold) and Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69).
And that line-up that recorded the debut, Michael & Sand (Guitars), Martin Mannhardt (Bass), Bernd Spitzner (Keyboards), Björn Gref (Drums) and Robert Soeterboek (Vocals), was stabile until 2003, when the singer Robert left the band and was replaced by Spanish Fernando Garcia.
And it's that line-up that now have recorded Wicked Sensation's second album, "Exceptional".

As I said, Wicked is new for me, I have never heard of them before, so I was very excited to hear if they could give me something, and yes, they do.
With catchy and well-written songs, they deliver a solid album, it's not going to revolt the hard-rock genre, but it's a fine additional to it.
And so for Mr. Garcia, he does his album debut with Wicked Sensation here, and I have to say that he fits the music very well. I haven't heard Robert so I can't tell if it's better or not.
But I can swear on my mother's grave (if she would be dead) that he sounds like someone else in the song, "Back to My Bed", I almost killing myself here, but I can't grab it.

Also mention earlier is that it's not very original and maybe a album for the fans of melodic Hardrock, I don't think it will appeal to someone that's not into this kind of music, but real fans of it might find something new to their collection.
(Absolutely can you check it up even if you're not a fan of melodic Hardrock, maybe you like it too!).
Want a sample? Just find your way to their homepage (link in the bottom) and download the song "Shining Light", one of the best tracks on the album, if you like it, it's a harmless purchase.

Favourite Songs: "Shining Light", "Back to My Bed" the best one & "Rain on Me".