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RAGE OF ANGELS
Dreamworld

Escape Music (2013)
Rating: 8/10

Now, you know you’re onto a winner when an album features so many cool, yet criminally underrated hard rock stars, such as Tyketto’s Danny Vaughn, Harem Scarem’s Harry Hess and an absolute truck load of others. Rage Of Angels is the brainchild of original Ten keyboard player Ged Rylands, who is accompanied by vocalist David Reed Watson and former Ten guitarist Neil Fraser, although the album is literally littered with guest solos and vocal performances, including Robert Hart (ex-Bad Company), Matti Alfonzetti (ex-Jagged Edge), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear) and guitar wizard Vinny Burns (ex-Ten / Asia).

So, it’s no surprise that melodic rock journeyman Rylands has put together a fascinating slab of hard, sweeping rock resulting in ten well polished numbers that exude class from back to front; there’s something here for everyone who calls themselves a hard rock fan.

Whether its fret-burning guitar solos or lush vocal harmonies, there’s so much to get the fangs into, beginning with the echoes of the title track which features Matti Alfonzetti’s ascending vocals. It’s a simmering, mid-paced track featuring distinctive jabbing synths and a soaring Neil Fraser guitar that worms its way through the steady drum backbone and keyboard drama.

Next up is the melodic swagger of ‘See You Walking By’, which features another hooky synth and the enigmatic vocals of Harem Scarem’s Harry Hess. Canadian hard rockers Harem Scarem were an incredibly underrated band, so it’s nice to hear Hess’ subtle tones even if the lyrics are a tad poor. Still, it’s a crystal clear little rocker, but is soon outweighed by the tumbling drums and scorching guitars of ‘Through It All’, which features the slightly gruffer tones of Robert Hart. It’s very much late 80s metal in its approach, boasting the sort of silk ’n’ swagger you’d expect from a Whitesnake album, and Hart’s vocals really do rise to the occasion on that catchy chorus.

But if there’s one track I’d recommend to anybody, it’s the cheeky, pop-tinged sway of ‘Over And Over’, featuring Tyketto’s Danny Vaughn. It’s a classy example of modern AOR with those luxurious arrangements and soaring vocals, and again Fraser shines. Then we ooze into the instrumental ‘Prelude For The Gods’, which leads us to the creeping ‘Falling’, featuring Ralf Scheepers. This is one of the album’s hardest numbers featuring a gothic synth intro and edgy vocal which is softened by the keyboard sprinkles, but it boasts a wondrously mounting chorus that is hardened by a sturdy drum.

I’ve always been a fan of records which introduce us to various other musicians, and Dreamworld is a perfect vehicle to showcase the talents of musicians we know and love, or in some instances some of us may have tragically forgotten. The gorgeous sway of ‘The Beating Of Your Heart’ features David Reed Watson who I know so little about, but his earthy vocals caress this slow moving ballad that also features a warm guitar sound courtesy of Tommy Denander, who has worked with music legends such as Michael Jackson and Paul Stanley of Kiss. It’s an epic seven-minute track that really gives the heart a glow with its delicate piano and lavish arrangements.

‘Spinning Wheel’ is another decent number, once again introducing us to Danny Vaughn. But of all the tracks I was looking forward to most it was ‘Requiem For The Forgotten Soldier’. Being a huge thrash / death metal fan, I was rather stunned to see the name of Ralph Santolla pop up on this one. This guitar master may be known for his work with power rockers Iced Earth, but for me the name is more associated with death metallers Deicide and Obituary.

As expected, ‘Requiem For The Forgotten Soldier’ is an epic cut that almost clocks in at seven minutes and breaks the silence with the drone of an air-raid siren, before the jarring guitar suddenly kicks in over an equally stabbing drum. This was always going to be a guitar fest of a track, as it also features the axe talents of Vinny Burns, Martin Kronlund and Xander Demos. The track begins like a sharper, less mystical ‘Kashmir’ (Led Zeppelin, 1975), building and building with those intricate solos but then, halfway through circa a lengthy narrated sample, the tone is lowered, this time by another swirling solo that worms its way through a sporadic drum march until we’re back to that stomp. It’s a fantastic instrumental that you lose yourself in, and then we’re lead away from proceedings by the stirring ‘We Live, We Breathe, We Die’, once again featuring the staggering guitar talents of Burns, with Robert Hart on vocals.

Those of you seeking something harmonious in the noisy world of metal should step on board the Rage Of Angels train, because this is one ride you won’t want to get off.

Neil Arnold

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