About MSG – Written in the Sand…
Ideed, it is a really good album! I has a more melodic and groovier approach to the MSG classic sound. As a habit for UFO and MSG, it has a great opener on Brave New World, 3 very nice songs in a classic MSG style (Back to Life, Essenz and Love Never Dies) and a very cool title song. I think, maybe because of a overall more mid-tempo oriented songs, from “I Will Be There” on, the album feels a bit samey. And it would be better a vocalist with more presence and character, no doubt.
Now, I’m really curious to give a proper listening to The Unforgiven!
Just a thought, related to the amazing drumming of Shane Gaalass (not forgetting the also great work of Barry Sparks), but I totally LOVE the great 90’s drummers. It seems to me, although at the time they really step up the technical level of playing, they also cared a lot about keep the playing very grooving and with a great organic and, at same time, clear drum (and cymbals!) sound. Among others, drummers that had represented that: Mike Portnoy, Will Calhoun (Living Colour), Tim Alexander (Primus), Uli Kush (Helloween), Van Romaine (Steve Morse Band) and Paul Craddick (Enchant).