{"id":47681,"date":"2015-01-08T19:39:53","date_gmt":"2015-01-09T00:39:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=47681"},"modified":"2015-01-08T19:39:53","modified_gmt":"2015-01-09T00:39:53","slug":"level-10-chapter-one-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2015\/level-10-chapter-one-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Level 10 | Chapter One<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Justin Gaines<\/span>
\n– Senior Columnist\/News Editor —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"LevelNow here’s a super-group with a lineup that’s sure to get people’s attention. Level 10 is the latest project to emerge from the mad scientists at the Frontiers label. This time around they’ve assembled a who’s who of the Melodic and Power Metal scenes. Level 10 features vocalist Russell Allen (Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob), bassist Mat Sinner (Primal Fear, Sinner), guitarist Roland Grapow (Masterplan, ex-Helloween), guitarist Alex Beyrodt (Silent Force, Primal Fear), drummer Randy Black (ex-Primal Fear) and keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio (way too many projects to name). As if that weren’t enough, the album also boasts guest appearances from Magnus Karlsson, Carsten Schulz, Sander Gommans and Amanda Somerville. This is \u201ctop shelf\u201d talent in every spot, so expectations are quite high for the band’s debut, appropriately titled Chapter One<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In terms of overall style, Level 10 sounds exactly like you’d expect it to given the players involved. When Frontiers does full-on heavy metal, and especially when any of the Primal Fear guys are involved, it’s going to hit that sweet spot between Melodic and Power Metal. Chapter One<\/em> couldn’t quite pass for a Primal Fear album, but it’s not far removed from one either. It’s somewhere between Primal Fear, Sinner and Allen-Lande.<\/p>\n

Again, given the players involved, you know what you can expect from each position on the album. The guitar work is impeccable, merging heavy and melodic sides perfectly. The rhythms again show just how much chemistry Sinner and Black have together, and of course Russell Allen sounds like the vocal titan he is. We hear a lot of the more melodic side of his voice from the Allen-Lande collaborations, but there is also a good dose of \u201cAngry Russell\u201d that fans of his recent Symphony X albums will recognize. There isn’t a single individual performance that you could find fault with here.<\/p>\n

Do you feel a \u201cbut\u201d coming? <\/p>\n

On paper Chapter One<\/em> should be just about the greatest Melodic\/Power Metal album ever. In reality it’s a really good album that at the end of the day isn’t equal to the sum of its parts. As good as it is to have these stellar performers in one place, the songwriting \u2013 good as it is \u2013 perhaps isn’t up to the task. Yes, Chapter One<\/em> is a completely enjoyable album and one that grabs your interest throughout, but there are no instant classics here that you know you’ll be listening to a decade later, like you do with Allen-Lande songs like \u201cAnother Battle\u201d and \u201cThe Revenge\u201d or Primal Fear’s \u201cFace the Emptiness\u201d and \u201cFighting the Darkness.\u201d Again, this is a really strong album, and there’s no way fans of melodic metal aren’t going to bang heads to songs like \u201cBlasphemy\u201d and \u201cCry No More.\u201d Level 10 just doesn’t live up to the admittedly high expectations a lineup like this brings.<\/p>\n

It may not be the world-changing epic people are expecting, but if you’re a fan of melodic heavy metal \u2013 particularly bands like Primal Fear, Sinner, Allen-Lande, Silent Force, Masterplan, Jorn and Pretty Maids \u2013 the Level 10 debut is mandatory listening. If you compare it to similar project albums released recently, it’s solidly better than the last Allen-Lande but not quite as good as the Serious Black debut, and that’s definitely good company to be keeping. <\/p>\n

Genre: Melodic Metal, Heavy Metal<\/p>\n

Band:
\nRussell Allen (v)
\nMat Sinner (b) (v)
\nRoland Grapow (g)
\nAlex Beyrodt (g)
\nRandy Black (d)
\nAlessandro Del Vecchio (k)<\/p>\n

Track Listing:
\n1.\tCry No More
\n2.\tSoul of a Warrior
\n3.\tNo Turning Back
\n4.\tOne Way Street
\n5.\tBlasphemy
\n6.\tLast Man on Earth
\n7.\tScream and Shout
\n8.\tVoice of the Wilderness
\n9.\tAll Hope Is Gone
\n10.\tDemonized
\n11.\tThe Soul is Eternal
\n12.\tForevermore<\/p>\n

Label: Frontiers Records<\/p>\n

Website: http:\/\/frontiers.it\/album\/5236\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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

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