Reviewed by Sagiv Shaniv
Artist: Nergard
Album: The Beginning
Label: Pug–Nose Records
Release Date: June 14th 2011
Tracklist:
1. The Haunted – featuring Ralf Scheepers (4:01)
2. All I Ever Wanted – featuring Tony Mills (5:16)
3. Hell On Earth – featuring Mike Vescera (5:11)
Once upon a time (May 2010) a Norwegian composer named Andreas Nergard decided to write material for a metal musical called Memorial for a Wish. He gathered an impressive line-up undoubtedly, that includes Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear, ex-Gamma Ray), Tony Mills (TNT, Shy), Nils K. Rue (Pagan’s Mind) and many more talented metal musicians.
But how does it sound?
Well, one can easily identify classical power metal in this EP, not to say too classical. Beside the rather heavy and distorted guitar sound it would be tough to find anything new in this piece. The lead vocalists most definitely deliver, the guitars are tight and tuned, but… it’s just not it. The overall feeling is as if you’ve heard it already on a Kamelot, Edguy or Blind Guardian album. There is nothing new to hear around here unless you’re new to power metal, although I was surprised by some technical metal oriented bridges that reminded me of Mastodon or Devin Townsend.
Yet still, the EP is just what listed above; a fine piece of good old power metal, with some of the finest vocalists around and without too much “progressiveness” that some of the genre’s hardcore fans tend to dislike.
Some of the EP’s highs are its surprising bridges and probably the truly epic intro of the first track “The Haunted”. I believe it’s the best track on this short EP and the most powerful one (And for some reason, Ralf Scheepers reminds me in some parts of Jorn Lande).
Nonetheless I find the production a bit mediocre. The guitars are somewhat of dim sound, and the percussions are pushed aside for some reason, as for my humble opinion.
To conclude, I recommend this piece of pure, fun power metal. It will shake your senses for a few days and afterwards will probably appear on your playlist once in a while.
8/10
Band Members:
Åge Sten Nilsen (WIG WAM) – Vocals
Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR, ex-GAMMA RAY) – Vocals
Göran Edman (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) – Vocals
Mike Vescera (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, LOUDNESS) – Vocals
Nils K. Rue (PAGAN’S MIND) – Vocals
Michele Luppi (SECRET SPHERE) – Vocals
Andi Kravljaca (SILENT CALL, AEON ZEN) – Vocals
David Reece (POWERWORLD, ex-ACCEPT) – Vocals
Tony Mills (TNT, SHY) – Vocals
Helge Engelke (FAIR WARNING) – Guitar Solos
Stig Nergård (TELLUS REQUIEM) – Guitar Solos
Line up on “THE BEGINNING” (2011)
ANDREAS NERGÅRD (Rudhira) – composer/drums/bass/keyboards
RALF SCHEEPERS (Primal Fear, ex Gamma Ray) – vocals
TONY MILLS (TNT, ex Shy) – vocals
MIKE VESCERA (ex Yngwie Malmsteen) – vocals
Click image to watch the video
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