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Mr Blue Sky
United Kingdom
195 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Mar 2005 : 22:06:06
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SOUL SIRKUS ‘World Play’ Frontiers (2005) www.frontiers.it
This album has been available since last year via the band’s website and now Frontiers give the album a full European release. The band formed from the ill fated Planet Us ‘supergroup’ of Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Neal Schon and Deen Castranova. The latter two hooked-up with Jeff Scott Soto and Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy/Whitesnake) to form Soul Sirkus. Prior to the release Deen Castranova left to concentrate on Journey and his replacement is Planet X/Ring Of Fire drummer Virgil Donati.
The reviews have been glowing and then some! Well let me add my twopenny worth and say this is one of the best hard rock albums in many a year. From the brief guitar into we’re off on a rocking ride with ‘Highest Ground’ and ‘New Position’ (Van Halen meets Brian May). ‘Another World’ hits a Led Zep grove as the song builds nicely to a crescendo at the chorus and Marco Mendoza drives it along with some neat bass runs. Ballads are kept to a bare minimum, which must be unusual for Neal Schon as the last two Journey albums have been ballad heavy to say the least. ‘Soul Goes On’ is the pick of the ballads and Sot o again steals the show. ‘Alive’ catches you out as it starts with a harmony vocal before kicking in with a big guitar riff and is the sort of song Journey will hopefully try to emulate on their new album. ‘Friends To Lovers’ wins my track of the album award, as it is so damn catchy. Schon’s soloing is so damn heavy that you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a metal guitarist in the band, whilst Virgil Donati’s drums ring clear in the mix and his playing on this album proves he is one of the best drummers around at the moment.
Neal Schon whips up a veritable storm on guitar with Jeff Scott Soto at the top of his game vocally. Hopefully this album will sell lots and more importantly break out of the obvious Journey/Soto market into the wider rock scene. It really is a classic and I’d be surprised if any other hard rock album tops this release this year or indeed in the near future.
*****
Jason Ritchie
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SOUL SIRKUS ‘World Play’
