I wrote about how I went out to the city and found both Bridge the Gap and Spirit on a Mission in store. Already taking a punt on the wonderful Temple of Rock DVD, once I looked at the lineup, I took a blind purchase on both of these. I am now a little disappointed they weren't the special editions but this album is absolute unreal.
I didn't know what to expect really but I've always loved Doogie a lot. I really enjoyed his vocals with those later Yngwie albums and I saw him live with Yngwie in 2006 I believe. Even though he didn't sing a full concert because of all the instrumentals, he was fantastic, he really was. This album has somewhat hit me like a ton of bricks. This is one of the greatest surprises I've ever come across truthfully. I've pretty much had it on repeat for the last 3-4 weeks and I haven't gotten tired of it yet. I've even put on other things and still get the urge to go back to this. There is really nothing I don't enjoy about this album, it's just fucking complete.
Neptune Rising: I love the major classical feel at the start of this. Like a short little overture and when it kicks in, it's a great taste of the style to come.
Where the Wild Wind Blows: This fucking blew me away when I heard it. That stomping riff, the Phrygian melody over the top, the atmosphere, I love it. This one is top 3 for me and was my fav initially but probably number 3 now. I like the lyrics actually. I don't mind a bit of sexual innuendo at times and it fits the atmosphere. The pre chorus is excellent and builds nicely and the chorus has a wonderful beat and melody. The middle section is so good. Love the natural third note instead of the minor third before the acoustic part. I loled at how loud Schenkers leads were here, so high in the mix, especially the acoustic. That solo though blisters. The tension at the start but then those two notes (E,D) at 2:15 I'm in love with. Then that climb, just so good, such expressive soloing.
Horizons: This is a Tim said, a really excellent track. I actually get a heavy Malmsteen vibe from this one. I like the almost Whitesnake verses and the excellent short pre chorus. That chorus screams Malmsteen as I said for me. Great melodies. Short, snappy and yeah, Doogie crushes this. The transition from the pre chorus into the chorus is actually fucking brilliant. Even a Malmsteen like key change into the solo too. Michael's tone on this album is a bit different, a little muddier and dirtier but lush. How about that lick at 2:16, oh yeah! This one actually is only top 5 for me. Shows how good this thing is.
Lord of the Lost and Lonely: I get a bit of a Ten/Magnum/Gary Moore feel from that intro melody truthfully. It's catchy as fuck though. The stomping rhythm is strong as hell too. Tim mentioned pre choruses, and I'm doing the same. This one sounds like Maiden. I guess that intro melody is more Maiden too now come to think of it. The chorus is interesting, at first that G chord in the middle that rings out twice is a really nice interesting touch. The double time also is much appreciated. Great solo, and some A harmonic minor in there which is cool. The melody at the start of the outro solo also is sublime.
Rock 'n' Roll Symphony: Now I'm never one to really like the whole 'rock is great', 'metal forever' type song. They are mainly okay but sometimes very cheesy. Not really the case here. Although the lyrics are cheesy but I can appreciate everything here. That main riff is very cool. I like the slight effect on Doogie's voice too. You know what I love though, that simple riff at 0:43, that's so fucking cool. Really love the bluesy tone in the solo and the keys are excellent and old school. Kind of Deep Purple or something.
To Live For the King: I feel some Dio vibes in this one. Kind of a slithering, stalking kind of riff. The different small sections through this one gives it an interesting touch. The whole Phrygian and Phrygian dominant vibe in this is very nice. Something else I love is those 'aaahs' in the pre chorus, so good. As Tim said, Doogie owns this one. The soloing here is really quite expressive and experimental. Schenker playing around a bit here with some blues stuff but even some off notes and a little chromatic type feel. Interesting flavour. The tension he builds is great. That note at 3:59 is worth mentioning too.
Land of Thunder: Another Horizons type faster tune. Those verse melodies remind me heavily of some specific band, but I still can't pinpoint it. That short pre chorus again is fucking brilliant, and leads into the chorus perfectly. I get another strong Yngwie vibe with that chorus and Schenkers' melodies underneath Doogie are just perfect. The entry into the solo too is beautiful. The change at 1:58 is like you've just climbed a cliff and jumped off to fly away, fucking perfect. And then that major lick at 2:20 is so good. This song is a cracker.
Temple of the Holy: Phyrgian again here which is always most welcome for me. It's so good hearing Schenker do this metal vibe, it works so damn well. The verse is simple but the chorus takes off and even though it's simple also, the contrast is excellent. The simple nature is the perfect platform for Schenker to noodle over. Check out that lick at 2:01, lol. Really, this one is all about Schenkers' improvisation. I love his subtle changes into straight blues licks here over that dark rhythm. It works surprisingly well.
Shine On: Holy shit, how creative are those intro melodies, seriously!? The pulsing style riff from Wild Wind returns too and I LOVE the lyrics on this one. They are just amazing to me and Doogie portrays them just so damn well. Like he's actually singing to his lady who is hurting. These type of positive spirit lyrics always hit me. Beautiful soaring chorus that just makes you feel good, it's amazing. I like the shorter solo here too and the key change into F# from E is nice. I really appreciate Wayne's 7 string work on this one too. That rhythm at 2:11 is heavy as hell and one of my fav sections of the album underneath Schenkers' sweet crying leads. At 2:11 it actually shifts back to E, very very clever. It quickly resolves into the main melody too. The outro soloing is icing on the cake. This track is too good. Top 3.
Bridges We Have Burned: This is by far my fav song on the album. The lyrics again on this one are I think some of the best lyrics I've heard in a long long time and so relatable. It hits me deep, really deep. The music for this one is surprisingly simple. E minor but love that flattened 5th chord in the riff. Doogie's portrayal of the subject matter is just too good. Again, the whole concept here is brutally honest and gut wrenching. Again, we have another fabulous pre chorus and that Maidenesque E/C/D chord chorus is perfect. I love the lyrics how Doogie second time around says 'hiding out until the sunset,' but at the end it's 'sunrise.' Again portrays that wasted time aspect just so damn well. That solo tears at my heart, Schenkers' bend at 2:33 is crying and then that sliding up and down run at 2:36 almost depicts the despair and confusion of the subject matter also. He doesn't do much picking here it seems going through the notes, giving that crying type feel. He repeats a similar thing after the next lick and then at 2:48 the descend of the those two short licks I love also. Great climbing finish to try and rise back up again. The outro solo Schenker is crying too, realizing all the time wasted and bridges burned, it's put across in this solo. I love this song, one of the most brilliant songs that's touched me in a long time.
Because You Lied: Whoa! This is a fun track. Very different and somewhat unexpected but I like it. Schenkers' short solos make this one for me. Great touches. He's doing some contrasting stuff to the rhythm I feel, it's fun. Some chromatics in there too which is nice and a bit jazzy. This one flies by and while not top tier, it's a fun listen.
Black Moon Rising: This one didn't click right away. I get a Sabbath vibe here, Martin era maybe, but as Tim said you can feel the great chemistry here. I like the use of the 7 string again here. Nice and prominent. The chord progression in the chorus reminds me of the Lost and Lonely progression. The chorus actually listening again now, it's quite excellent, like really fucking well written and excellent. Some more nice improvisation from Schenker and I even feel a bit of Tony Iommi here at times, very nice. That last chorus with Schenker underneath is actually really powerful. Great track and placed perfectly.
Dance for the Piper: This is a wonderful closer. Doogie absolutely slays and this might be my fav vocal performance on the album. He sounds AMAZING in those verses, so expressive and strong. Great melodies. The chorus gives that Dio/Sabbath vibe again and slithers along and is heavy as hell. Love the contrast back into the verse too. Then we get double time into the solo. I feel Tony Iommi a little again here too. I laugh out loud at the change to 2:23. 7 String and those couple of blues licks are too good for words it makes me laugh. Great interplay with the outro too yet again. Great, great song and perfect closer.
I can't say enough good things about this album, it's simply incredible and as I said, might be my fav all round Schenker album so far.
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