2024-01-12 18:08:47
2024
(Melodic Rock | Hard Rock)
Label: Massacre Records
Format: (LP)
Release: 12.01.2024
If you want to highlight something positive from the pandemic apart from the free time gained during short-time work, it would be that many bands and musicians also had more time to move their projects and bands forward. The new team is like that too RAVENSTINE born in the middle of the Corona period. Founded by Martin Sosna, the project delivers together with Hanno Kerstan (MYSTIC PROPHECY), John A.B.C. Smith (Ex-AT VANCE, ex-GALLOWS POLE), Ian O’Sullivan (GOD’S ARMY) and the Croatian vocal talent Zak Tataji an extremely strong second album somewhere in the melodic 80s rock. The self-titled debut was released in March last year, which is now followed by the next masterpiece “2024”.
Mostly pleasantly driving and relaxed rocking and yet heavy and catchy, the international band skillfully plays from highlight to highlight and hit to hit. “Black Is The Brighter Color” gets off to a cool, grooving start with funky bass lines from Smith. Fast beats, summery guitar playing and polyphonic parts immediately put you in the mood. But Zak looms over everything, who, like a born 80s rocker, leads through the songs with a slight penchant for sleaze, here and there, when his vocals sometimes give way to a certain Tobias Sammet (AVANTASIA, EDGUY) and towards the end of the live track “Freedom Day” also confidently portrays Bruce Dickinson (IRON MAIDEN) imitated.
“Easy Come Easy Go” begins with clean guitars, also inspired by the Iron Maiden, but poppy synths and danceable beats set a slightly different tone. But here too, everything happens quickly and smoothly and invites you to sing along before the biggest hit candidate “Fly Eagle Fly” starts. Quiet guitar strumming, a pleasant and positive AOR feeling and incredibly catchy vocal lines will have you singing along from the first listen. Here too, the bass lines can be heard perfectly thanks to the grandiose and transparent production, some southern rock in the guitars and the reduced approach are somewhat reminiscent of the work of Arjen Lucassen (AYREON), but also a pinch PINK FLOYD is noticeable, and gives hope for further hymns of this kind.
You can’t quite reach the level of this masterpiece anymore, but with the sensitive acoustic ballad “Signs By The Roadside”, the promisingly dark “A Long Way Home”, which tells of lost homes, or the motivated “Killing Spree”, that is regarding the connection between social media and mass shootings, there is still plenty of damn strong fodder to be discovered. As relaxed and easy-going as RAVENSTINE’s music sounds, with other themes such as depression and coming to terms with one’s own death, this creative hope is also profound and invites you to discover it. And last but not least, the stadium rock ballad “When I’m Dead And Gone” makes you pull out your lighters and cell phone flashlights and wave them around.
What a surprise! RAVENSTINE are not only well-known names, but also a well-rehearsed, creative and talented group who neither see the whole thing as a band nor as a project, but rather see themselves as five friends who enjoy making music together. With this result, it might take longer if I have my way!
Tracklist „2024“:
1. Black Is The Brightest Color
2. Easy Come Easy Go
3. Fly Eagle Fly
4. Sign By The Roadside
5. In The Light
6. A Long Way Home
7. Killing Spree
8. When I’m Dead And Gone
9. Freedom Day (Live)
Total playing time: –
Band-Links:
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