Artist: Revolution Renaissance 
   Title: New Era
   Label: Frontiers Records

Now then, what have we here, 'New Era' was initially to be a Stratovarius album but Timo Tolkki shelved that idea.  Instead he formed Revolution Renaissance and gathered a few friends to assist on vocals (Tobias Sammet, Michael Kiske and Pasi Rantanen), along with some session musos to complete the package. 

‘Heroes’ kicks off the album after a short, quirky guitar intro.  Featuring Tobias Sammet on vocals, whose voice suits the song a treat and Timo’s catchy guitar riffing.

‘I Did It My Way’ (no, not the Sinatra song) has a bit of a Zeppelin groove to it at the beginning, especially the drums.  Clocking in at nearly 10 mins this is an epic tune. Michael Kiske vocals have matured over the years and he nails this song perfectly while Timo stretches his guitar chops.

The next song ‘We Are Magic’ is faster paced song featuring Pasi Rantanen on vocals.  There are occasions that Timo’s guitar sound on this song brings to mind Eddie Van Halen circa ‘Women & Children First'/’Diver Down’.

Slowing things down with ‘Angel’, once again Michael Kiske lays down another great vocal performance with some great melodies.

‘Eden Is Burning’ is up next and another melodic power metal performance from Rantanen.  Timo has chosen the vocalists well for this project as well as performing some blistering solos.

We’re back to Tobias Sammet for ‘Glorious And Divine’, a short, beautiful acoustic guitar/keyboard driven song with flowing melodies.

‘Born Upon The Cross’ picks up the pace again. Musically, this comes across as almost Dio-ish but with Pasi Rantanen’s soaring vocals and Timo’s EVH style solo.

The closing three songs, ‘Time to Keep The Flame Alive’, ‘Last Night On Earth’ and ‘Revolution Renaissance’ feature Michael Kiske on vocals and once again Timo provides some fantastic guitar work with some blistering fret-board meanderings and wonderful vocal melodies courtesy of MK. A triumphant closing of the first and hopefully not the last album from Revolution Renaissance. 

This is a fantastic album with some elements of Stratovarius but more thought seems to have gone into this project. With an excellent selection in the vocal department and solid backing from Pasi Heikkila on bass and Mirka Rantanen on drums, Timo has come up with an album that will go down as his best effort in a longtime.

*Review by Brassy

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