J.S.M

What I like about this album: There are a lot of songs, so there's variety though they are not too far away from each other. The songs are pretty compact but they got everything they need. The vocals are great. Love all those key changes.

What I don't like about this album: Song no. 2.

Pretty cool surprise...

Don't like automatic as much as the other songs. I think the chorus is weak. The production made it a bit better. Still curious for the other songs.

7 hours ago, lettard said:

Loving this but is it me or does it sound a little low soundwise? Have to turn this one up a few extra volume turns(no bad thing) as opposed to the other new Frontiers releases  or most newer released discs for that matter.

The sound is a bit strange on that album. On the one hand very powerful but the guitars are almost a bit too loud, the drums are a bit quiet here and there except for the ride bell, which is always very present. Backing choirs do not sound as big as on their other albums. Vocals on call of the wild sound like he shouted into a letter box. 

But I like most of the songs, the last few are a bit weaker than the first.

I already wrote a little bit about the samples. Now that the whole songs are out I got reminded why they were my favourite band until they broke up. They got some crazy energy and they're a puzzle... 4 great musicians who leave enough space for each other to shine. Even though here and there there could be a bit more space for the vocals but yeah, guitars were the concept of this album and that's fine. Trond is probably my favourite living guitar player, nobody writes riffs like him. 

In my earlier post I said Trond (Teeny) sings Call of the wild. Have to correct that, it's Bernt (Flash). Next time, let Åge sing... or Trond... the song is fine but the voice is a bit underwhelming.

Where does it hurt & Shadows of eternity are my favourites after the first run through, great songs with a heaviness never heard from Wig Wam.

Silver linings is very melodic but I guess one or five less repetitions of the chorus would have still been enough.

Hard love is actually better thsn I thought after listening to the samples, great build up.

My kaleidoscope ark is a great ballad, exactly what I missed when Wig Wam wasn't there.

One little point of criticism maybe... the production is veeery rough. Energetic but some mistakes could have been edited out. The first bar of the Where does it hurt verse has a little rhythm error in the palm mutes of the guitar; there was one solo that was a bit too slow somewhere, I also heard some tiny wrong notes of the singer. For a live performance that is usual but as a studio production a bit strange... at least I haven't heard things like that before on a well done record.

Anyway, these are great songs and I hope that it's only the beginning of a long future. 

4 minutes ago, KarpetRydOFunk said:

I love that! Very Eclipse. I can't wait for this album. I know I'm gonna love it no matter what, just because of the circumstances surrounding it. I'm already catching the feels. 

I actually think it's better than Eclipse because the difference that I see is Eric Martensson is using the same formula for every song, even the guitar always sounds the same, it plays very similar riffs and so on. The W.e.t album that's released tomorrow has the same songs on it as the previous Eclipe album, at least you could think so by listening both albums once. He's writing great songs and I bought the last two Eclipse albums but I think in Ronnie's song there's less formula, more real feelings. And I prefer Ronnie's voice. It has this "hey, I experienced a lot, let me tell you" character that not a lot of voices have. 

This song sounds exactly like a Crazy Lixx song, so it's basically just the voice that makes the difference and I automatically compare her voice to Danny. Have to say that though she's got a great voice, I prefer Danny. She doesn't sing that special. 

About the Itunes samples... most of these songs feel like Crazy Lixx songs that weren't good enough for the album except for 'Rocket on the radio', 'get it on' and 'ball n' chain'. These songs I wouldn't mind being on a Crazy Lixx album. Get it on reminds me of "She's mine" which is one my favourite CL songs. 

In eurovision there used to be some dark songs in the past and most of the time they are pretty popular. I really like this song and wouldn't mind seeing him in the contest. Live he can deliver I guess

Sounds exactly like the new album from Pyramaze I bought last year. 

2 good songs though

I guess Messiah would have been a better second single but I really like Medusa, too. It maybe misses a little highlight in the last minute.

Just listened to the Itunes samples and it made me pretty sentimental. For me that album isn't about how many good songs there are or if there are songs that I don't like. This album is a lot of strength that Ronnie Atkins gives to the whole world. Pretty maids was never among my top 5 bands because on every album were a few songs I didn't like but they always managed to give me some moments I was close to tears (little drops of heaven, bullet for you, Will you still kiss me, shadowlands) and I just can't imagine there comes a day without new music from PM and Ronnie. He's incurable they say so no one knows if this is his last work. I'll definitely buy that and listen to it for many years because of it's honesty, emotions... you can hear his feelings in every word he sings and even if there are songs that are maybe not my cup of tea I hope he'll reach more people than ever and will never be forgotten.

Pretty good voice but it feels like he's trying to sound like Erik. I hope that he gets a better balance between the loud and the calm voice. In that video he more or less shouted the whole song

Most choruses on the new album are not that exploding but I really like that song. Overall their music is more relaxed than those over the top - hymn bands

I think people still see them as a teeny emo band with only female fans but these days are over, they are doing professionell, adult, melodic heavy rock and they are really talented musicians.

Normally don't like screaming and growling. Their last album had some cool songs because it wasn't that heavy. Soilwork, Avatar and Amaranthe are the only death-vocal bands I like here and there.

These new songs don't do anything for me though...

I like it. Don't need the "ooh ooh's" but they are in every Black veil brides song.

1.  Rock And Roll Radio - good opener, I miss a third chorus run-through but I'm gonna use the replay button for more choruses.

2.  Castaway - similar structure which is a bit strange to me... anyway pretty decent

3.  Way Up Here - loved that song from the first time I heard it.

4.  Cold Ones - actually very simple chorus but has a huge effect on me, love it, too.

5.  Eleonora - didn't like it too much on the first listen but it definitely grows.

6.  Hot Steel - love the guitar in the verse, the other parts are decent but nothing special. Looking forward to drive to that song. 

7.  My Gray Cloud - cool atmosphere, chorus told me that there's a need of a surprise in that song because the chorus doesn't really explode and after the second chorus there's a big surprise and that totally lifts the song to one of my favourites.

8.  Origin Of Love - could have been on the last album, overall good but not a highlight 

9.  She's So Original - Great chorus but 3 or 4 run throughs would have been enough, way too many repititions in the end.

10. Strictly By The Rules - very relaxed, will maybe grow a little, at the moment it's a bit boring to me.

11. When It's Over - I really don't like that "I wanna be with you, I wanna be with you when it's over, over" part... everything else is great.

12. Fight - great final. Huge chorus, cool structure, gives me some nice feelings. It expresses a lot of hope somehow, love it.

I am one of the few persons who loved BINARY MUSIC because I thought every song was perfect, emotional, positive, melodic. RnR Radio goes into the same direction but it's not as consistent. Every song has great moments but there are more not so great moments, at least in my opinion. Still pretty good album.

Itunes samples are out in New Zealand😅

I was really a bit nervous before listening because WigWam was my absolutely favourite band before they split up.

I'd like to do a little sample by sample review 

Never say die - great song, typical wig wam hymn

Hypnotized - Great riff, very Wall Street sounding, weak chorus

Shadows of eternity - Very simple but working chorus, vocals a bit overshadowed by guitars. 

Kilimanjaro - very southern sounding, sounds a bit back to the roots with a darker edge, overall very dark sounding album to this point

Where does it hurt - Don't like the voice sound in the verse. Chorus is really missing harmonies. There are only some deep voices singing the same melody as the main voice. Could have been a "Gonna get you someday" hymn with more backing harmonies. Great riffs again, very heavy.

My Kaleidoskope ark - Typical Wig Wam ballad. First time I feel the same magic as on their debut. 

Dirty little secret - First song that's not that dark, at least until the riff kicks in. Chorus is a bit weak again.

Call of the wild - Teeny on vocals, yeah! Pre chorus is ugly 🤕 That sample starts cool but makes me feel uncomfortable. Lyrics-repeat in the chorus is a bit cheap.

Northbound - Nice guitar song, instrumental 

Hard Love - slower, heavy. WAS THAT ALREADY THE CHORUS?? oh, that's not good.

Silver linings - again slow, semi-ballad. Over 6 minutes. Chorus is cool but again they just repeated the lyrics 2 times.

Already over... I think I can get used to most of the songs... For me it misses almost everything that WigWam stood for, at least to me. That is:

-The perfect balance between all four members - on this album the guitars are very loud and the center of almost every song. The vocals are not as present as on the other albums and I think that's sad as Åge has that special thing in his voice that can lead through an album perfectly. He's always like "listen, I got something to say" and then he needs some space that the guitar doesn't give him on the album.

-The big hymns - Never say die is the closest to that. Wall street was missing them, too but with this album they went even further away from the catchyness of the first 3 albums.

-The funny moments - This album is very dark, not a single song that is a happy party song as "A R'n'R' girl like you" or "Hard to be a Rock'n'Roller". Even Wall Street was not that dark and serious ("Wrong can feel so right", "Natural high")

I definitely hope they stay together, play some of their old songs again and find their roots... This album is more HOLTER than Wig Wam.

Looking forward to that album.

Last album had some great songs. The problem was that I didn't like them all and there were only 8 songs... hopefully out of my life isn't an intro.

First single is good, I'm not a fan of slowing down in the chorus but that's just me.

2 hours ago, Aordave89 said:

The iTunes samples aren’t listed for me which is strange (Maybe because I’m in the UK). I’ll check them out if they are live after tomorrow’s single drop. 

I always felt the guitar work took a dive after Andreas Eriksson left.. that guy can play. Crazy Lixx - New Religion will always be one of my all time favourites.. wonder what he’s up to now.. 

I'm using Itunes New Zealand, so I can listen to the samples 12hours before the song/album is released. 

Is he that guy called Andy Dawson on the crazy lixx album? 😅

That's a good song. Itunes samples of the other songs sound decent. The first two tracks are great and then it seems like the other songs have either a good guitar riff or a good vocal melody but not that often both. 

The ovrall sound seems to be much better.

Strange that there are no samples of the other songs on Itunes. Usually frontiers previews the whole album when the first single is released.

First song is ok, chorus is weak. Somehow I prefer Erik's voice over Jeff's. Jeff sounds a little strained.

Difficult, let's see if I can decide for 10 favourites...

In random order:

1. Laughing at tomorrow- h.e.a.t

2. Would you love a creature - sister

3. In the end - black veil brides

4. Do ya wanna taste it - wig wam

5. Otherland - blind guardian

6. Colours of freedom- freedom call 

7. Keep your eyes on the twisted- pink cream 69

8. Love walked in- thunder

9. The final dance - kissin' dynamite 

10. Forget-me-not - Elvenking

I feel like I made a good decision. Probably forgot some but that's usually not a sign for being a favourite song.

Edit: Just noticed that my favourite bands are Lordi, Dynazty and the night flight orchestra and they are not even in the list.

Yes, if they keep the style of the first single, or at least the vibe, I'm convinced.

Wow, didn't expect it that early, I'm really happy about that. 

Tracklist seems like they continue with the more serious path, hopefully it will not be too dark, I preferred their happier/ funnier stuff.

4 hours ago, melodicrock said:

Its heavier...more Eclipse than earlier WET style. But it drips in hooks and harmonies as always.

Where did you hear it?