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RING OF FIRE ‘Dreamtower’ Frontiers FRCD142 (2003)
A melodic metal ‘supergroup’ of sorts as it features vocalist Mark Boals
(ex-MALMSTEEN), guitar wizard Tony MacAlpine, drummer Virgil Donali (PLANET
X), bass player Philip Bynoe (STEVE VAI) and keyboard player Vitalij Kuprij
(ARTENSION). This the band’s second album, a follow-up to 2001’s ‘The
Oracle’.
The album features straight-ahead melodic power metal with the added
twist of Tony MacAlpine’s guitar runs. ‘My Deja-Vu’ opens the album and is
very Malmsteen in style. Title track ‘Dreamtower’ contains some great
harmonies and Kuprij’s keyboards run riot all over ‘The Pharaoh’s Curse’.
‘Blue Sky’ takes the power ballad route with Mark Boals vocals coming to the
fore and the same goes for ‘Make Believe’. The European bonus track ‘Undone’
rocks big time with double bass drumming and crunching guitar.
Not a bad album at all with ‘Dreamtower’ being a personal highlight.
Malmsteen fans will enjoy this album with MacAlpine’s guitar and Kuprij’s
keyboards being highlights throughout the album. The quality of musicianship
can’t be faulted at all.
Website
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Review by Jason Ritchie
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***** Out of this world | **** Pretty
damn fine |
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan |
** Instant bargain bin fodder | * Ugly. Just ugly |
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