Metal Heaven
www.myspace.com/poisonsun
www.hermanfrank.com
By Craig Hartranft, 12.26.2010
Legendary Accept guitarist and producer Herman Frank teams up with vocalist Martina Frank (UFO, Jane and Weinhold). What's the relationship? The press materials are deceptively ambiguous. Whatever. One thing is certain. With Herman Frank engaged you'll get raucous, but melodic, traditional heavy metal with blistering guitar solos. As for Ms. Frank, conjure this sound: a blues/rock/metal voice in a mix of Klaus Meine, Bon Scott, and maybe even Bruce Dickinson merged with Ann Wilson and Pat Benater. If you can't get your head (or ears) around that description, I understand completely and apologize. How about a German version of Hydrogyn's Julie Westlake?
No matter: it's all good. Unless you give careful attention to the mix. Many times Ms. Frank seems strong and viable, but washed out by the rest of musicians. Case in point: Rider in the Storm. But, generally, her performance is well heard: Voodoo and the phenomenal Hitman. On the later, she sounds like a female version of Bon Scott. Overall, however, with her low key delivery, she often gets lost in the arrangements. Nevertheless, for traditional melodic heavy (emphasis on the heavy), the Franks deliver the goods. The title track is a great example. Overall, Poison Sun's Virtual Sin is fine first effort, even if the music, and not the vocals, take the day. Recommended.
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Poison Sun's Virtual Sin is fine first effort, even if the music, and not the vocals, take the day.
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