Artist: Evidence One 
   Title: The Sky Is The Limit 
   Label: AFM Records

I first came across Evidence One at The Gods Of AOR festival way back in 2003 and was totally blown away by the band, which initially was a studio project but the band has proven so popular that they have evolved into a full on kick ass touring band.  Led by Carsten ‘Lizard’ Schulz and aided and abetted by Jorg 'Warthy' Wartmann (who replaces Robby Boebel) and Wolfgang 'Schimmi' Schimmer on guitars, Thomas 'Hutch' Bauer on bass and finally completing the line-up Rami Ali on drums.

'The Sky Is The Limit' is the bands third album to date and in my opinion their heaviest and best yet.  The cover of the album shows three cards, the first two 'E1' and 'E2' representing the first two albums from the band, the third 'E3' shows the Joker card with a somewhat evil looking Joker sticking his tongue out.  However, this release is far from being a joke, this is the album where the band roll up their sleeves and openly declare to the melodic metal masses that this time they mean business!  If you thought the two albums before were good just wait till you wrap your ears around this release, it's thunderous yet melodic approach is sure to blow the cobwebs away from many a speaker.

With this new opus the band have thrown away the shackles of their Hard Rock persona aside for a more Metal approach, which not only gives the band a greater depth of sound, but also is more suited to Schulz’s vocal style, which was in my opinion made for Metal and certainly hinted at heavier things during their live performance at The Gods.

The album opens up with the title track and first single from the album ‘The Sky Is The Limit’ and instantly you're hooked as they just rip through the track like an express train, with Wartmann and Schimmer just throwing out some great licks from the off and then Schulz's breaks free from those hard rock chains and gives his voice the outing it, and his fans, have been waiting for, as he gives one of his best vocal performances I’ve heard to date.

The metal just keeps on coming as the twin guitars get things going on ‘Mr Madness’, this is another no holds barred metal assault with Bauer and Ali thrashing out the thunderous back beat and Schulz once again showing us the true might of his vocal talent.  This is without a doubt the best release so far from the band and this is coming from someone who thought 'Tattooed Heart' was a monster!  In my honest opinion this album goes far beyond the splendour of that album.  'Mr Madness' is also probably my overall favourite track from the album with 'Propaganda' a close second, but more on that later.

The streaming guitars are carried on into the next song the mid tempo track ‘The Luxury Of Losing You’.  This is pure European metal at its finest with Wartman and Schimmer both at their immaculate best as the riffs just soar above Schulz’s superb vocals.

The tempo is brought down a notch with what I’d like to call a metal ballad - ‘Won’t Sleep Alone’, this is probably the only track on this album that is reminiscent of the bands previous release ‘Tattooed Heart’ and has what can only be described as some breathtakingly soaring guitars mid section.

The band once again turns up the heat with another of my favourite tracks off the album ‘Propaganda’, this rip snorting piece of anthemic riff filled heavy metal once again shows what a vocal force Schulz is and the guitar work is again simply superb, this is another song just begging to be played in the live arena.

The high quality of this album just has to be heard to be believed as things continue with the excellent ‘Can’t Fight The Past’, another belter with Wartmann showing why he is the perfect replacement for the Robby Boebel, who made the decision in 2006 to step out of the limelight and concentrate more on the production and writing side of things.  A move that I think has definitely paid off for the band because the production on this release is second to none, with the instruments genuinely sounding both vibrant and alive, which can only go enhance the solid reputation for top quality music Evidence One have built up to date.

The relentless melodic metal fest continues with the storming riff spewn ‘Gallery Of Broken Glass’ and the tremendous ‘Rain Road’.  'Gallery Of Broken Glass' being another firm favourite of mine, although all the songs on this release are fabulous.  'Rain Road' has a slight Dokken feel to the guitars, but maybe that's just to my ears.  Either way this is another simmering melodic metal offering that in parts has a darker vibe to the guitar riffs against the skyward reaching vocals of Schulz. 

Just as you think the album can't get any better the excellent tones of ‘Mindmines’ reaches out from the speakers, grabs you by the throat and shakes your very foundations with its power driven guitars and thunderous back beat, all encased around Schulz’s pitch perfect vocals.

The album comes to a close with ‘Raging Winds’, starting out with some mighty powerful and heavy guitar riffs then it's off with more soaring guitars as this powerhouse of a track rounds off perfectly what can only be described as a tremendously modern melodic metal album.  With this change in sound and style the band will surely reach new heights and deservedly so, great stuff indeed!  

Tracklisting:

  1. The Sky Is The Limit
  2. Mr. Madness
  3. The Luxury Of Losing Hope
  4. Won't Sleep Alone
  5. Propaganda
  6. Can't Fight The Past
  7. Gallery Of Broken Glass
  8. Rain Road
  9. Mindmines
 10. Raging Winds 

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