(Metal Heaven) Total Time: 47:46
VENGEANCE are a very well known Dutch hard rock metal band that has been around for many years and not only because Ayreon’s Arjen Lucassen is an alumnus. They 've got a number of records out already and Dec 08/Jan 09 will see the release of both their first live album as well as their newest offering – “Soul Collector”... that as well as their come-back album “Back In The Ring” is also produced by the great Michael Voss of Cassanova/Mad Max fame. The band sounds like a greatly evolved version of themselves, which should nowadays come across like a weird hybrid between Central European melodic metal (Dutch/Belgian, German) crossed with a little of British metal (Saxon with a few whiffs of Dickinson thrown in). If you think it sounds appealing, you 're right!!! “Cross In The Rain” opens the album in mid tempo and has a strong riff and a nice big meaty hook! “Wait Until The Sun Goes Down” continues with its driving rhythm... and features a nice juicy solo and the catchy, infectious motto “We can do it!!!”. “Soul Collector” which is up next is fine too, but opening with a melody too similar to Megadeth's “Symphony of Destruction” isn't exactly that great... “Samurai” is a very engaging song, full of eastern (middle eastern however) influences, while I 'd probably expect a little more plucked style in the guitars for a song allegedly referring to late-Feudal Japan, at any rate its atmosphere is most excellent either way! Quite a highlight!!! “What The Hell”, is mid-tempo and more modern reminding me a little of Edguy meets Avril lavinge (?!?!!?). Scoring high on the oddball meter “Myspace Freak” is actually tackling a social phenomenon in a witty way, but musically it's pretty crappy. “I Never Felt That Way Before” is not a ballad like one might have expected, but an average and slightly modern rocker that doesn’t really turn heads. “Dance Dance Dance” might sound like a Ratt tune, but it ain’t. It's another decent if not very spectacular midpaced rocker, that is however quite more pleasant than its predecessor. “Rock And Roll Band” which is up next is a more feelgood rock n roller and it picks the pace up decidedly! Then again “So Many Times” slows things down a bit, but also makes them heavier too...but also sensuous. And the band closes the album with “Lean On Me” which is an even more sensitive power ballad with Leon Gowie, the band's vocalist, really sounding soulful and edgy on this one!
Overall it's a quite nice album and I did enjoy it a good deal! VENGENGE are back! With a vengeance! You better be ready to rock, droogies!
