Website: Edguy
The Inside Pulse:
Rising out of Germany, Edguy brings a neo-classical groove which, in the wrong circumstances, would be a disaster. However, their oddball style — seemingly a glam-flavored modern take on power metal of the early ’80s — is done with such effect that one has to extend a bow in awe at their audacity to buck the trend so completely. The fact that they’ve been doing this for years, under the radar, makes it even more amazing that they continue to stick with it.
Down to their album cover, Edguy has no problem with going over the top. Soaring vocals with a sense of humor (see the ranting end of “Catch of the Century”), a guitar sound which can only be described as “majestic,” and familiar chord progressions from days of old are just a few of the elements that make one glance at a calendar, wondering why they’d never heard this Iron Maiden album. Other songs are closer to glam; imagine a band cloning the style of a band like Dokken, yet remaining distinctly themselves and quite serious about it. It sounds crazy, but it works in its own little niche kind of way.
Positives: The album’s title track says it all, and with the most pinache; there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that these guys are having a blast. And that’s the biggest positive of the disc: it’s so fun that it almost hurts. The lyrics and musicianship might not really be terribly noteable, but vocalist (Tobias Sammet) brings to life something that should have been DOA.
Negatives: Oh, it’s so derivative that it hurts. The only really unique thing about Rocket Ride is the fact that someone released it in 2006. The retro factor definitely adds to the charm, but for all intents and purposes, this album is pure fun and not much more. The songs that have less of a dated style, like “Superheroes” and “Trinidad,” are just sort of ho-hum.
Crossbreed:
See the previous Maiden/Dokken comparisons; if that doesn’t say at all, you just won’t get it.
Reason to buy:
If you’re a fan of ANYTHING listed above, this is almost a must-buy to fill that hole in your soul that has long since been stripped away by cookie-monster vocals and kids in masks. (And probably their last couple of discs, too.) Outside of that niche, you’ll probably just point and laugh.
