Level 10 Chapter One cd review

Level 10


















Level 10 is another project dreamt up by Frontiers head man Serafino Perugino and then put together for our aural pleasure and just reading who is on it will start hearts a fluttering for anyone who likes their music in a heavier direction.

On vocals is Russell Allen ( Symphony X,Adrenaline Mob and Allen/Lande),on bass is Matt Sinner(Primal Fear,Sinner,Voodoo Circle,silent Force) guitarist Roland Grapow (Helloween,Masterplan,Serious Black),guitarist Alex Beyrodt (Silent Force,Sinner,Primal Fear),drummer Randy Black (Primal Fear,Annihilator)and keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio(Hardline,Voodoo Circle).
If that wasn't enough you also get guest appearances from Magnus Karlsson,Carsten Schulz,Sander Gommans and Amanda Somerville.

What you get is a classic rock album with plenty of power metal touches but that does it an injustice as it really is just a great album played with style and panache by wonderful musicians.

You want riffs you got it,you want double bass drumming you got it, you want big choruses you got it,you want guitar solos you got it.

At the forefront of it all is the quite superb voice of Russell Allen who shows of the full range of his talent at every opportunity.

" Cry No More " is a great opener with its thunderous drum beat under a huge riff that leads into a big chorus with some excellent backing vocals and the keyboards giving the song some real depth. A very Deep Purple Hammond flourish leads into a lengthy guitar solo that isn't all about speed but has a superb melodic tone to it.

" Soul Of A Warrior " has an atmospheric drum and keys start before a big riff kicks in on a mid tempo number with another chorus with Allen in full control.

" No Turning Back " ups the tempo on a driving number with a real Judas Priest headbanging riff and another huge chorus on a song built for being played live. Superb guitar solo before some very Maiden twin guitar leads.

" One Way Street" has a huge crunching  riff and drum rhythm with great use of light and shade in the pre chorus  before another great chorus showing off Allen's vocal.

" Blasphemy " has a guitar and keyboard riff at its core on a number nearer Allen's work with Adrenaline Mob.

" Last Man On Earth " is a real classic rock number with another huge chorus that is an album highlight.

" Scream And Shout " is a double bass drum,Helloween style twin lead start before another headbanging riff kicks in and another chorus begging to be shouted back at them in the live setting.

" Voice Of The Wilderness " takes the pace down a little on a rocker with a lengthy guitar solo at its centre and some gothic backing vocals on the chorus.

" All Hope Is Gone " is the albums ballad with a piano intro on a song that really shows off Allen's range and how he can handle rock and also mellow too.

" Demonized " is a Primal Fear/ Judas Priest style double bass drum driving rocker which the guitarists take to a different level on a lengthy split solo .

" The Soul Is Eternal " starts on a guitar solo before a mid paced rocker where Allen sounds like Ronnie James Dio on occasions and there is nothing wrong with that!!

" Forevermore " starts with a Maiden sounding riff before a chugging riff and double bass drum passage before a great chorus and a superb split guitar solo again.

12 tracks of classic hard rock and like many of the Frontiers projects it will be interesting to see whether we see Chapter Two of this band because I for one would love to hear more.

Frontiers Music Srl will release Level 10's debut album, Chapter One, in Europe on January 23rd and in North America on January 27th.

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