SIAMESE – ELEMENTS
In their decade, Denmark’s Siamese have appeared with Korn, Corey Taylor, Nothing More and Beartooth. They’d have fitted in with all of them.
“Shape Of Water” (featuring ten56) is a prime example of their modern metal/modern prog crossover. Bands like Architects do this stuff for a pastime and Siamese are their obvious twins (sorry!).
Electronic, almost dance elements abound on the likes of “Vertigo” and if “Chemistry” proudly wears its pop influences on its sleeve then Enter Shikari fans would love the breakdown.
There’s a pulsing, club feel to “On Fire” and there’s a crossover potential to “Euphoria” too.
It ends with “This Is Not A Song” – and its not, not really, instead it’s a rager. As they point out themselves “it’s a motherfucking moshpit”. All the sides of modern heavy music (right down to the fact that for large periods it is not heavy at all) are all here.
All of the “Elements” you might say.
Rating 7/10
JIM PETERIK AND THE WORLD STAGE – ROOTS AND SHOOTS VOLUME 2
Earlier in the year Jim Peterik – who has made a career out of these type of things – released “Roots And Shoots”. The idea was that the ex-Survivor man made a load of tracks with some established stars and new blood.
It was excellent, and so much fun was had, they did it again. AOR doesn’t get better than “American Dreamer” (with Dave Mikulskis) and AOR singers don’t get better than Toby Hitchcock, as he proves again on the ballad “All That’s Mine To Give.”
“Been To The Mountain” – featuring Jason Scheff of Chicago – is a clear highlight, but the “roots” and “shoots” are given equal prominence and the relatively unknown Kevin Farris excels on “Rise Again.”
The songs themselves are so expertly played that you can’t resist them, however much “Until” might be a touch cloying, it sweeps you along.
There’s a foray into pure pop with “Hit Of Freedom” – where the unknown Sophia Sheth proves she can sing, and Peterik himself stars on the last one, “The Road to Forever”.
It sounds like a soundtrack song, and the whole album sort of does. A compilation album the way Jim Peterik saw it, as a chance to showcase some more talent on the World Stage.
Rating 7/10
