Band:	Rob Rock
Album:	Garden Of Chaos
Style:	US power metal
Release date:	2007
A review by:	Jeff

01. Garden Of Chaos
02. Satan's Playground
03. Savior's Call
04. This Time Is The Last Time
05. Only A Matter Of Time
06. Spirit In The Sky
07. Metal Breed
08. Millenial Reign
09. Unconditional
10. Ride The Wind
11. Ode To Alexander

The previous album of Rob Rock was a bit deceiving for me. I don't know why but I didn't like it a lot? Of course it wasn't bad or anything but it was clearly too generic and conventional, all in all it was just a new album of Power Metal like the ton of other new ones that we have every day in our stores? The new release is much better in my opinion with some variations (in general the songs are a lot more aggressive now) and some nice NWOBHM touches!

When you'll listen to the first song of "Garden Of Chaos", you'll quickly understand that Rob Rock will not deceive us this time! It's still Power Metal of course but now the riffs sound a lot more "American", I will not say that it's Power a la Iced Earth but still this is a lot more Thrashy and that's already good news. Also, the Power Metal of the combo is not so "melodic" (the previous albums were all really Eurpoean in the spirit) and the songs all have this kind of melodies that we can find with Maiden and Saxon and for me that's classy. All in all, a song like "Garden Of Chaos" or "Satan's Playground" is a perfect example of good Power Metal and features strong Thrashy riffs, great guitars soli and nice catchy melodies.

Rob Rock proves one more time that he is a good singer but here also, like with the music, I have the feeling that Rob wanted to do something a bit more heavy and loud. His voice is a bit more agreesive and doesn't sound like some basic Euro-Power singers anymore, now Rob Rob and his guys clearly play thrashy Power and only the commercial choruses are here to remind us the previous albums? "Garden Of Chaos" (the album) features a lot of guests, like Roy Z or Gus G and the production by CJ Grimmark (and Roy Z for some few songs) is simply excellent. Nothing to say here, "Garden Of Chaos" is a really solid album of Power Metal and I hope that the fans will not miss it!

After the deceiving and a bit average Holy Hell, I can tell you that Rob Rock is back! His new release is solid as a rock and will never disappoint the fans of Power Metal (Euro or American). I like the fact that some bands are able to add "violence" in Power Metal, of course it's not Thrash here and some choruses are still really commercial but in general "Garden Of Chaos" is a lot Thrashy and heavier and that's a good sign of course. Highly recommended if you're looking for classy good Power Metal.