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Artist: Ten |
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To
say over the past few years that Ten have been a band in turmoil would
be one of the understatements of the year. Well documented throughout
the years the band have had ebbs and flows, both musically and personally,
including the bands self exile from the whole Melodic and Hard Rock
scenes. So
it was a surprise to many that the band entered the studio for what is
the bands ninth album ‘Stormwarning’ Still
spearheading Ten is Gary Hughes as always and for this album Hughes mixes the old and the new in regards to band mates to join him on this
new chapter in the bands life, with Neil Fraser on lead guitars and Mark
Sumner on So
to be perfectly honest Ten are a band that I have had a take it or leave it
relationship with as regards to albums. Some I’ve loved, some not so
much, so I took this new album with a pinch of salt. Could it as its bio
suggests, live up the likes of “The
Name of The Rose” and “Spellbound”? Well to be honest this could be
the best album the band have done in years. From
the opener ‘Endless Symphony’ you’ll take a step back and simply
say WOW! This seven minute plus opener is a real gem a little heavier
and more sonic than I can remember the band being, which isn’t a bad
thing. I must say that it must be Wards influence working with the likes
of Angra and Edenbridge that have added a little spice to the Ten sound, which
I personally love, (me a Ten take it or leave it kind of guy!). The
album continues to impress me big style as it continues with ‘Centre
Of My Universe’, a more gentle refrain that the opener but still a
solid track all the same. It starts from humble beginnings and just
builds in something quite special. Things
continue on the sonic front with the Melodic Rock spectacle this is
‘Kingdom Come’ before bringing a little Whitesnake influence to
proceedings with ‘Book Of Secrets’, then it's Hard Rockin’ all the
way with the title track ‘Stormwarning’ and the mid tempoed rocker
‘Invisible’. The
tempo is brought down just a touch with ‘Love Song’, another
seven-minute minutes of pure ear candy, as Hughes delivers one of the
best vocals on the album so far. It's
back into MR mode with the simmering splendour of ‘The Hourglass And
The Landslide’, before adding a harder edge to things with the
excellent ‘Destiny’ and wrapping up proceedings with ‘The Wave’,
a gentile seminal ballad. It's been a long time coming (some say it was never going to come), but a new Ten album is about hit the streets and one that will sure send tidal waves of emotion around the scene. The positive comments will sure come raining down so be prepared you’ve have been warned of the pending storm that is Ten and their finest album to date. |
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Tracklisting: 1. Endless Symphony |
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