• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

December 2024

• After Lapse: Pathways
• Illusion Force: Halfana
• Powell-Payne: Voilá

November 2024

• Sunstorm: Restless Fight
• Storace: Crossfire
• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
• Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
• Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
• Lonerider: Down In The Dust
• Seventh Crystal: Entity
• Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
• Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
• Impellitteri: War Machine
• Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter

October 2024

• Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
• DGM: Endless
• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
• Radioactive: Reset
• House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
• Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire

September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

[ More Music Reviews ]

Hemer, Patrick: More Than Meets the Eye

Melodic Heavy/Power/Prog Metal

4.0/5.0

Nightmare Records/Sony Red
Website MySpace
by Craig Hartranft,  12.12.2011

Probably best known for his work with Horizon, guitarist Patrick Hemer steps out on his own with his first solo album More Than Meets the Eye. The album, like most of its kind, is an platform for Hemer's rather impressive neo-classical guitar style in a tradition melodic heavy/power, sometimes, progressive metal context. In this sense, for song composition, Hemer strays far from work akin to Horizon and other bands operating in the field. Therefore, whether a fan of the genre or a lover of this classic metal guitar style, Hemer and company do not disappoint.

For the pure fret magic, Hemer offers two excellent instrumentals with Firelight and Terra Incognita. Other songs offer traditional melodic heavy metal. On the more steady heavy side Up from the Ashes and Edge of Insanity deliver. For a more galloping quick pace, there's Thorn in My Flesh. You'll find metal with a familiar and accessible groove in Guilty. Then, there a slower, near ballad, side to his style on For All Eternity. Hemer gives an homage to one of his influences when he covers Queen's Death on Two Legs, one of the bands more heavier and edgier numbers. Hemer distills that essence and then ratchets up the grittiness. It sounds good.

Ultimately, however, More Than Meets the Eye is Hemer's show; it's all about his fiery guitar work within in his own composition in the his most comfortable genre. Hey, it's all good, and not entirely a self-serving platter of self indulgent musicianship. Very recommended.

More Than Meets the Eye, Patrick Hemer's first solo project, finds the guitarist displaying both his exceptional song composition and fiery fret skills.

Alphabetical Index

The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]