{"id":40396,"date":"2014-05-07T18:23:14","date_gmt":"2014-05-07T23:23:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=40396"},"modified":"2014-05-07T18:24:01","modified_gmt":"2014-05-07T23:24:01","slug":"wami-kill-the-king-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2014\/wami-kill-the-king-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"WAMI | Kill The King<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Alexandra Mrozowska<\/span>
\n– Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"WAMIThese days, artistic collaborations between well-known musicians are nothing rare and the number of star-studded projects spring up like mushrooms. Still, WAMI is a unique formation for many reasons \u2013 the whole idea for this project was started by Marco Mendoza (of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders, formerly of Whitesnake) two years ago. Performing in Poland, Thin Lizzy was supported at that time by the heavy metal act Anti Tank Nun \u2013 and, as it seems, the extraordinary talent of the support act\u2019s guitarist, Iggy Gwadera, left Mendoza enchanted. <\/p>\n

The idea for musical collaboration between the two followed and soon it evolved into a full (and yes, star-studded) project, involving Mendoza and Gwadera as well as Doogie White (Rainbow, Michael Schenker, Yngwie Malmsteen) on vocals and Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, Dio) on drums. <\/p>\n

To make a perfect heavy metal fairy tale out of it, it should be added that the impressive Gwadera is only 16 now, the fact that can really restore one\u2019s faith in the late \u201890s \u201cgeneration Z\u201d as they call it. Of course, the fairy tale wouldn\u2019t be complete without the input of the Fairy Godmother(s), or, in this case, the producers\u2019 team. Here we go as follows: Jarek \u2018Chilek\u2019 Chilkiewicz (a well-known Polish guitar player) as well as the album\u2019s composers Wojtek and Piotr Cugowski (the two talented sons of Polish classic rock legend Krzysztof Cugowski who followed their father\u2019s footsteps artistically). The result of this multi-dimensional collaboration, an album Kill The King, is soon to be released via Metal Mind Productions.<\/p>\n

Enough of the background \u2013 let the music do the talking. WAMI\u2019s first release is perfect balance between hard rock versus heavy metal, classic roots versus contemporary sound, aggressiveness versus melody. \u201cExodus (The Red Sea Crossing)\u201d is the album\u2019s opener driven with the slow, lumbering, Sabbath-esque riff and followed by the dynamic track \u201cThe Rider,\u201d featuring the dazzling guitar gallop. Some blues rock overtones are to be distinguished in \u201cWild Woman (You Oughta Know),\u201d a feisty and groovy hard rock piece (think early Whitesnake). The fourth track is the absolute highlight \u2013 the ballad \u201cGuardian of Your Heart\u201d is where Doogie White shares lead vocals with the above Piotr Cugowski. A result of their collaboration behind the microphone is the brilliant, emotionally laden performance, and the surprisingly perfect match of these two voices brings the song to a whole new level. <\/p>\n

The next song is a bit self-introductory, as White sings \u201cwe are rock\u2019n\u2019roll believers\u201d in his raspy but powerful voice; it\u2019s \u201cOne More For Rock\u2019n\u2019Roll,\u201d another track in vein of Sabbath trademark style with psychedelic flavors. Its follow-up \u201cHeart Of Steel\u201d is a groovy but melodic hard rock piece, driven by quite modern riff. The mellow intro to \u201cThe Resistance\u201d is only seconds before the track evolves into a heavy metal killer, with muscular gun-machine riffs and feisty, aggressive vocals \u2013 but at the same time, still melodic. Interestingly enough, this song\u2019s outro is an obvious reference to White\u2019s Scottish heritage \u2013 check it out and you\u2019ll have it loud and clear. <\/p>\n

In a powerful, upbeat mid-tempo \u201cYoung Blood\u201d stellar vocal harmonies complement the melody, in a contrast with \u201cGet Out Of My Way\u201d which develops into a fast-paced, dynamic hard rock track with the aggressive dialogue between the lead and backing vocals. The next to last is \u201cTransition,\u201d a track which is pretty heavy and straight-in-your-face, but at the same time melodic and which precedes the final \u201cI Don’t Wanna Lose You,\u201d a soaring acoustic ballad with cello part played by the guest musician Dorota Wozniak-Mocarska. <\/p>\n

Kill The King<\/em>, above all, proves one undisputed fact \u2013 this international, intergenerational hard rock WAMI project really works. And even more, the sensational artistic collaboration between a group of talented Polish musicians and the three hard rock legends would be seriously unappreciated if referred to only as a curio in Appice\u2019s or White\u2019s vast discographies. It\u2019s so because of many reasons \u2013 not only the predictable quality of the performance by the legendary musicians of Rainbow, Dio or Whitesnake fame, but also well-crafted compositions penned by the creative duo of Cugowski brothers. The true scene stealer is, however, the guitarist Iggy Gwadera \u2013 being not even old enough to vote and still, capable of meeting such a challenge. His talent and prowess, surprising at such young age, really shines through the entire album, and it\u2019s almost certain we\u2019ll hear about this gifted young man in the future \u2013 perhaps mentioned again alongside big names of the music industry. Let\u2019s also hope Kill The King won\u2019t be the last album under the WAMI moniker \u2013 although with the bar set so high with the first one, it\u2019ll be hard to top it. Much recommended.<\/p>\n

Genre: Hard Rock<\/p>\n

Band:
\nDoogie White \u2013 lead vocals
\nVinny Appice \u2013 drums
\nMarco Mendoza \u2013 bass
\nIggy Gwadera \u2013 lead guitar<\/p>\n

Additional musicians:
\nJarek \u2018Chilek\u2019 Chilkiewicz \u2013 additional electric & acoustic guitars
\nWojtek Cugowski \u2013 additional electric & acoustic guitars, backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10)
\nPiotr Cugowski \u2013 guest lead vocals (track 4), backing vocals (tracks 4, 5, 8, 9, 11), additional acoustic guitar (track 11)
\nDarek Switala \u2013 backing vocals (track 5)
\nTomasz Golab \u2013 bass (track 5)
\nSzymek Synowka \u2013 drums (track 9)
\nMarek Trojanowicz \u2013 all keyboards
\nDorota Wozniak-Mocarska \u2013 cello (track 11)
\nEliza Cugowska, Krystyna Cugowska & Ewa Chilkiewicz \u2013 backing vocals (\u2018The Shouting Wives Choir\u2019, track 5)<\/p>\n

Track List:
\n1.\tExodus (The Red Sea Crossing)
\n2.\tThe Rider
\n3.\tWild Woman (You Oughta Know)
\n4.\tGuardian Of Your Heart
\n5.\tOne More For Rock\u2019n\u2019Roll
\n6.\tHeart Of Steel
\n7.\tThe Resistance
\n8.\tYoung Blood
\n9.\tGet Out Of My Way
\n10.\tTransition
\n11.\tI Don\u2019t Wanna Lose You<\/p>\n

Label: Metal Mind Productions<\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 8\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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