James La Brie - Impermanent Resonance (2013)

James LaBrie's  new solo album is a departure, a new chapter, where the famous Dream Theater singer is asserting himself into new territory. This album doesn't sound like Dream Theater at all, it leaves aside progressive metal and embraces short, catchy and pop infused modern metal songs with a healthy dose of heaviness and sparse harsh vocals.

Impermanent Resonance is the kind of album that will not change your life, and won't be remembered as a great album, but the good thing about it is that the song are beautifully catchy. The modern sounds and synths, the pop hooks and the vocal melodies by James LaBrie turn each song into a bright catchy (and often cheesy) experience that you just can't help but enjoy and sing along.

Personally, I prefer the heavier moments in the album when the guitars get more of a presence and the harsh vocals provided by drummer Peter Wildoer add to the music in a big way (see the video below to listen to excellent album opener Agony). 

Overall, this is a guilty sin of an album that I'm sure I will enjoy for a long time.

Rating: Good Vibrations

Lingua Mortis Orchestra featuring Rage - LMO (2013)

Behind the Lingua Mortis Orchestra is German metal band Rage, a band that remains largely unknown outside of Europe but has a long and powerful discography. Rage are seen as a German power metal band but they've never been content with doing just that and they've also made incursions into thrash, speed and progressive metal; amongst others. Not happy with that, Rage were also one of the first bands to produce an original album with an orchestra and doing so without compromising on guitars and heaviness. 

LMO is a continuation of the orchestral experiment they started back in 1996 and sees them once again in good form. The guitar riffs are powerful and heavy, the solos incredibly sharp and the rhythm section is as well oiled as you would expect from a veteran band like this. The orchestra and the band work together and mix seamlessly in a great mix of classical music and metal. The excellent (and long) opening track Cleansed by Fire (see the video below) is a great example of what to expect from this album. 

One of the problems with the album is the concept album nature of it. Unfortunately, some parts and songs lose steam. But there's plenty to like here and Rage demonstrate once again why they have always been one of the most loved German metal bands in Europe. Don't be fooled, this is an expansive album made to enjoy at home and there are plenty of killer tracks here.

Rating: Good Vibrations

Tarja - Colours in the Dark (2013)

Tarja is back with a new album and a very strong album it is; but it won't please everyone. The songs move between straight forward symphonic metal, with progressive rock touches, a dash of electronica arrangements and pop sensibilities. Tarja's voice is warm, soothing, commanding and strong and she sounds great.

Depending on how you look at it, this is Tarja's fourth album (if you count her Christmas CD) or third (personally, I wouldn't count the Christmas album) and it feels like she's finally set herself free of people's expectations and is having fun exploring new sounds and textures. This is her more experimental album and it works.

Stand out songs include, the bombastic album opening Victim of Ritual, the straight forward and pop sounding 500 Letters, the crowd pleaser Never Enough and the stirring grand melodies of Deliverance. 

I should also mention Mystique Voyage a song that reminds me of Sarah Brightman and will probably go under the radar for most Tarja fans but I found really beautiful and the closing track Medusa which is probably too long and sweeping for metal fans but I found captivating.

Overall Tarja delivers a great fusion of symphonic bombast, progressive rock, pop sensibilities and a heavy metal sound. The songs are not as accessible as her previous two albums and there's a cloak of heavy darkness all throughout the album but this is a more mature sounding Tarja, with a more experimental sound and it works. 

Rating: Heavy Rotation