Artist: EdGuy Title: “Fucking With Fire” Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: 4/28/2009 Genre: Melodic Power Metal Rating: 3.5/5
Released a couple of months prior to the live concert DVD that bears the same name is its audio companion from Germany’s EdGuy. The double CD, fourteen track effort finds the band pulling out all the stops in front of a rabid San Paulo Brazil crowd and since you know how these folks respond to the Metal at the end of the day, the home listeners gets to relive the mayhem that was ensuing. The weird thing for me about this release was why it was made as a separate item as opposed to being packaged with the outstanding film that it comes from. In this day and age, I have seen a much better response for those items that place both audio and video together. Oh well, I guess this is why I don’t work for a record company development team and instead am one of the many voices that “speak” about what they dish out. Continue reading “Fucking With Fire” (Live) by EdGuy→
Artist: EdGuy Title: “The Singles” Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: 2/10/2009 Genre: Melodic Power Metal Rating: 4/5
It was only a few weeks ago when that mighty and enigmatic court jester of Melodic Power Metal Tobias Sammet had given his fans a little bit of candy with EdGuy’s “Tinnitus Sanctus”. It was an album that continued the bands endeavors to make Metal a little less serious and having heard it I can safely inform the readers that they succeeded. Of course the issue of a new album after a series of successful tours that received some real attention to the bands cause could only mean that it was high time for a collection like “The Singles” to be released next. Fans should be aware that this is not a greatest hits CD but instead the compiling of all of the bands recent singles which were only previously available on their European and Japanese EP’s. That’s a good thing because I would fear the world would find me mad for uttering the words “Greatest Hits” and “EdGuy” in the same sentence since Melodic Power Metal bands are seldom afforded such luxury in today’s music society. The ride begins with “Superheroes” from “Rocket Ride” which was a catchy song, but I loved the next track up entitled “Spooks In The Attic” since it was much more energetic and driving. “Judas In The Opera” is a scandalous number and there is quite the scatological lyrical content thing going on, so you innocent listeners best shield your eyes, I mean ears. Tobias stands on the beaches and proves that he is indeed the wind beneath something as he delivers the epic version of “Superheroes” and in all honesty, the tune sounds pretty good when done in this fashion. We get a couple of versions of “Lavatory Love Machine” – the first being the standard and the second acoustic which shows the listener a new side of those EdGuys. The tempest doesn’t stop as Toby and company tackle Europe’s “I’ll Cry For You” before delivering “King Of Fools” from “Hellfire Club”. “New Age Messiah” might find the pious frozen in place and while I will leave some surprises for you I will say that the closing number “Life And Times Of A Bonus Track” is hilarious. The tune is clever and addresses all things that one would experience if they were a bonus track themselves (at least according to Tobias Sammet). Continue reading “The Singles” by Edguy→
Artist: EdGuy Title: “Tinnitus Sanctus” Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: 1/27/2008 Genre: Melodic Power Metal Rating: 4/5
Now that singer/composer Tobias Sammet has released his latest epic Metal masterpiece with Avantasia, the killer album from 2008 entitled “Scarecrow”, the time has come for him to once again have the kind of fun that he always seems to have with his main band EdGuy. It seems as though while a couple of years have passed since we last saw a release from these dudes with “Rocket Ride” and not too long before that “Hellfire Club”, that there is a relative consistency in their ability to release high quality Melodic Hard Rock or Power Metal (depending on how you see them the most). Clearly we will not wait for sixteen years between EdGuy releases and in my mind that is a welcome thing. Listening to “Tinnitus Sanctus”, a great play with Latin phrasing about that ringing in the ear one gets after sitting in front of their speakers for too long listening to the Metal, the band has picked up where they left off and not lost an ounce of creative steam since the last go round. My first exposure to EdGuy was with “Vain, Glory, Opera” and I admit that I was quite hooked from the moment that I first heard what they delivered to the Metal head of the time. Their music is always catchy and sounds not only fun to the listeners ears, but also in its composition and one can imagine the guys having a blast playing this for a room full of energetic fans. Having seen them a number of times since that first listen I can honestly say that there are few performers who look like they are having a better time than their audience is. “Tinnitus Sanctus” is loaded with that type of Metal energy that the band excels at and while the opening track “Ministry Of Saints” is a standard tempo groove, it seems to be setting you up for the rest of the adventures inside the CD. The tune reminded me just a little too much of “Sacrifice” but that was more based on the way the chorus flowed than the entire tune. I liked “Sex, Fire, Religion” as that had some crunch to it and had some tasty heaviness in the riffing from Dirk and Jens that I enjoyed. My first favorite on the new release came with “The Pride Of Creation” because the boys just cut it loose here and let Felix Bohnke drive the tune with knockout double bass drumming before the big EdGuy sing along chorus came in. Continue reading “Tinnitus Sanctus” by EdGuy→
EdGuy is a lot of fun in concert and this gig was considered a co-headlining appearance with Into Eternity. The show brought along Echoes Of Eternity and Light This City as well and all four bands piqued our interest greatly so we got inside early enough to be able to document it properly. For more information and photos of all the groups just scroll past the logo below.
Artist: EdGuy Venue: B.B. King Blues Club (New York, NY) Opener: Into Eternity, Light This City, Echoes Of Eternity Date: 9/16/2007 Label: Nuclear Blast Records
You know that you are always in for a good time at a concert when it is an event that finds Tobias Sammet and his compatriots in the band Edguy at the center of attention. For over fifteen years they have been dishing out some of the most fun that you could legally have at a Power Metal show and their track record has yet to fail in this regard. Tonight’s event at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill would be the third time that they had appeared at the venue but it would only be their second headlining appearance. Their last trip found them as direct support for Germany’s and Nuclear Blast Records label mates Hammerfall. The guys would be continuing to support their latest release “Rocket Ride” and bring with them the might of Century Media’s Into Eternity along with Light This City and Echoes Of Eternity. It was sure to be one of those nights that you regret the next morning and here is how it happened in case you missed it. Continue reading EdGuy @ B.B. King Blues Club (9/16/2007)→
Artist: EdGuy Title: “Rocket Ride” Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: 1/20/2006 Genre: Power Metal Rating: 7/10
EdGuy is at it once again. Following their teaser EP release of “Superheroes”, they have delivered “Rocket Ride” to the public. Fans that have purchased the EP need not worry about having too much duplication across the piece; in typical EdGuy fashion, the EP only features one new track. The remainder of it was composed of unreleased live or studio tracks. “Superheroes” is the only song from the EP on “Rocket Ride” and it is definitely a catchy number. As I listened to the album I found that they bring you in slowly to the release instead of in the pounding manner that “Hellfire Club” did. “Sacrifice” is a tricky song which starts slow, then rocks, only to slow again before it kicks in. Tobias is a classic styled Rock Star and takes his creativity to heights on every song. One of the strongest natures of appeal in EdGuy is not only their catchy brand of Melodic Power Metal but also in the level of harmony chorus backups present in most of their songs. Because of this, the songs seem crafted in such a manner that it is very easy to find yourself singing along even at first listen. I felt that with songs like “Superheroes”, “Catch Of The Century” and “Wasted Time”, the group is leaning a little more to the “radio-friendly” side. You can’t blame them in this approach since it will hopefully bring more listeners to their shows and boost album sales. However, there is sufficient ass-kicking on songs like “Rocket Ride” and “Return To The Tribe”. The latter tune has an awesome guitar effect which actually sounds like Tobias is singing the solo. It also has a slight resemblance to “Fallen Angels”, from the must-have release “Mandrake”. The band’s very manic sense of humor and fun are showcased in songs like “Trinidad” and “Fucking With Fire”. Fans of slower numbers will enjoy the softer side Tobias has during “Save Me”, which serves as the Power Ballad of the recording. Continue reading “Rocket Ride” by Edguy→
