Kiske/ Somerville: City Of Heroes

In his 2010 review of Kiske/ Somerville's eponymous album our own Scott Jessup suggested that, "who ever came up with the idea that these two performers should sing together really got it right." That was true then and remains true five years later. Writing and technical duties once again rest upon the shoulders of Mat Sinner (Primal Fear, Sinner) and Magnus Karlsson (Starbreaker, Primal Fear) (with a song contribution "Breaking Neptune" from Sander Gommans formerly of After Forever and Amanda Somerville herself. Sinner oversaw the production in various recording studios in Europe before Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Amaranthe, Primal Fear, Pretty Maids, Doro etc.) then took over the mixing of the album.

There is a tendency for these project type Frontiers Records albums to be a little samey given that they tend to have the input of Alessandrio del Vecchio or Erik Mårtensson's fingerprints over many of them. This one isn't 80's melodic rock in the main (although "Lights Out" would fit nicely into that category.) This record is more, for want of a better word, epic, that is, reflecting perhaps Kiske's power metal background with Helloween and Somerville's Avantasia work. The opening one-two punch of the title track and "Walk on Water" is phenomenal and whilst the rest isn't quite as good although things pick up noticeably with "Open Your Eyes", as with the debut album there isn't an out and out stinker anywhere to be seen. Mainly this is good songs sung by top quality performers backed by a rock solid band.

Track Listing:

1. City of Heroes
2. Walk on Water
3. Rising Up
4. Salvation
5. Lights Out
6. Breaking Neptune
7. Ocean of Tears
8. Open Your Eyes
9. Last Goodbye
10. After The Night Is Over
11. Run With a Dream
12. Right Now

Bonus DVD
City of Heroes (videoclip)
Walk on Water (videoclip)
Documentary "Making of the Album"

Added: April 8th 2015
Reviewer: Simon Bray
Score:
Related Link: Frontiers Records
Hits: 2648
Language: english

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