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November 2024

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Rage of Angels: Dreamworld

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal

5.0/5.0

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Escape Music
by Craig Hartranft,  02.06.2013

It's good to have friends, and former Ten keyboard player Ged Rylands has more than a few of them helping him on his solo project, Rage of Angels. It's basically an A-list of melodic hard rock and metal heavyweights including, to name a few, Neil Fraser, Harry Hess, Robert Hart, Danny Vaughn, Ralf Scheepers, Tommy Denander, Ralph Santolla, Vinny Burns and, a Pennsylvania connection with guitarist Xander Demos.

The core of this debut Dreamworld is Rylands, of course, on guitar, keyboards and backing vocals, Ten guitarist Neil Fraser playing lead guitar, Pera Johanssen on drums, and Michael Carlsson on bass. Guest vocalists handle the leads with those notable guitarists filling in with more lead work. Actually, if anything characterizes this album it's the guitar work. Not discounting the contributions of other members, Dreamworld is definitely a guitar driven album. The signature song is Requiem for the Forgotten Soldier which has four guitarists doing as many, if not more, leads. It's like guitar gonzo stuff.

None of this, however, should overshadow the simple fact that Dreamworld is a well-crafted platter of tunes that sound great. It's essentially melodic hard rock with shot of metal edge in an accessible AOR style wrapper. That latter characteristic comes through in Rise Again and Spinnin' Wheel. You have a ballad with The Beating of Your Heart, and a sweeping edgier AOR epic with We Live, We Breathe, We Die. Other songs just kick ass, like the rockers Falling, Through It All, and Dreamworld. As said, earlier, this is solid, engaging and entertaining music. Quite recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Ged Rylands' Rage of Angels solo project is simply solid, engaging and entertaining, melodic hard rock with shot of metal edge in an accessible AOR style wrapper and propelled by a massive amount of lead guitar. Awesome.

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eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]