Avtor: Aleš Podbrežnik
Izvajalec: Mollo, Dario & Martin, Tony
Založba: Frontiers Records
Izid: year
Trajanje: 61:03
Ocena: 4/5
(for English version scroll down the bar)
Na “The Cage 2” so pesmi dovršene in izpiljene v potankostih, ko primerjamo ta album s prvencem “The Cage”. Med prvencem (“The Cage”) in nadaljevanko projekta je minilo dovolj časa in genijalne ideje so se medtem znova nakopičile. Že otvoritvena “Terra Toria” z moderno popačenim zvokom prvega rifa (nagruvano, kot se šika) je veliko presenečenje, za katerega je poskrbel Tony Martin z barvo svojega vokala, ki je neverjetno čista, linija v predrefrenu pa stilsko spominja na Roberta Planta. Nasploh poje Martin v pesmih raznobarvno, silno vživeto in s polnim zaletom. Visoko ambientalno vzdušje v pesmih zagotavlja tudi delo klaviatur legende Dona Aireya (Še kdo pomni njegovo fantastično solo avanturo “K2”?) ter sam kontrast večplastnosti back vokalnih linij, ki okusno zapolnjujejo zvok. Ej ljudje, “fretless” bas Tonyja Franklina je praktično vseskozi z nami!
Vse pesmi so kompaktne, Mollo si ne dovoli niti na eni sami točki prevlado lastnega kitarskega ega. S svojim talentom se bravurozno prilagaja motivom, ki oblikujejo pesmi. Ne morem si kaj, Mollo je najbližje ravno Malmsteenu. Hitro, čisto in natančno delo pravega mojstra. Okraski bliskovitih arpeggiov, ko se mož sploh ne more ustaviti, slajdanja in zategovanja tremola, so perfektno implantirani znotraj prehodov ali uvodnih delov skladb. Dinamika je zagotovljena s slogovnim odstopanjem med pesmimi, ki so perfektna kolizija hard rocka, klasičnega metaliziranja, AOR vskokov in celo bluesy odklonov. “Balance Of Power”, uaaa kakšen divji metež!!! Linija petja v njej je resen približek Diu.
Ena najimenitnejših skladb in čisti električni orgazem je zagotovo “Amore Silencioso”. Hamondke tuzazvenijo prvič . Kašmirsko orientirani srednji del, podložen s tolkali in fretless basom, krasijo arabske lestvice, ki se usklajeno prelivajo z osnovnim klasičnim pristopom. In ena najlepših skladb? “Poison Rosses”! Žalostno, uh kako to lahko do solz “podre” človeka.
Prava fantastika je tudi nepredvidljiva “Wind Of Change”, s sila težko vokalno linijo (refren), skozi katero se Tony fantastično prebije. Ob dejstvu, da se je Tony v času snemanja zdravil za vražjo boleznijo – rakom, je to še posebnega občudovanja vredno.
Perfekcija kitarskega blaznenja in klasičnih kompozicij, za katero so krivi tile stari mački, ki se še kar ne dajo in nas “futrajo” naprej s svojimi kreacijami, “The Cage 2”, je še ena fantastika nesmrtnosti jeklene zapuščine in popolna zmaga resnice in iskrenosti izražanja skozi umetnost glasbe na celi črti! Kakšno kitarsko štrikanje, aaaaaa!!! Pravi pekel!
Uf, hot, hot, hot!!! It was about time. Ex-Black Sabbath legendary vocals meet Italian Malmsteen guitar sonic drive. O.K. I went to far. What those two guys served us are 12 superb first class compact Hard Rock pieces, that are spiced up with classical Heavy Metal power drive and AOR touches. Everything sounds so fluid. Dario`s filligranic guitar artwork in solos, bridges, supersonic intros or outros never overdominates the basic structure of songs.
Tony can really change his vocal abilities. Like a chameleon. In opener “Terra Toria” his vocal line reminds of Robert Plant, also by Tony`s singing. Tony went through some difficult times during recording sessions for this album. He was seriously ill (cancer), fortunately everything worked out fine for him. And having this fact in mind when hearing his superb vocal performance, this deserves a full respect. Tony at his best. In “Balance Of Power” you`ll get an impression that Dio joined in on vocals. Uf, what power carries this piece. Most difficult vocal lines are performed brilliantly in chorus of “Wind Of Change” (when verse “More Than These ……” begins) and later on Led Zeppelin cover “Dazed And Confused”. All the time the band is trying to achieve wider sound with adding some great back vocal harmonies.
First highlight of the record is “Amore Silencioso”. This song fluids from late gothic-romantic Black Sabbath opening riff and flows in the middle section into oriental “fill-in” supported by percussion and fretless bass. This Arab melos fantastically collides with classical approach through the song. Just feel the chemistry that flows here. Tony plays the violin here. Don`t worry about keyboard work. It was done by Don Airey, another great composer. Does anybody remember his solo adventure under the name “K2”? This record is done sincerely and soulfully. Another proof that “old good buddies” still won`t lay down their arms. Music is their way of life. Another first class invention.
Zasedba
Tony Martin – vokal
Dario Mollo – kitara
Don AIrey – klaviature
Dario Patti – klaviature
Tony Franklin – bas kitara
Roberto Gualdi – bobni
Produkcija
Dario Mollo
Seznam skladb
1. Terra Toria
2. Overload
3. Life Love And Everything
4. Balance Of Power
5. Amore Silenzioso
6. II (Instrumental)
7. Wind Of Change
8. Theater Of Dreams
9. What A Strange Thing Love Is
10. Dazed And Confused
11. Guardian Angel
12. Poison Roses
