Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2024 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
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
July 2024
- Ironflame: Kingdom Torn Asunder
- Spektra: Hypnotized
- (Michael) Palace: Reckless Heart
- Mr. Big: Ten
- Dark Mile: Dark Mile
June 2024
- Kaipa: Sommargryningsljus
- Sunbomb: Light Up The Sky
- Seven Spires: A Fortress Called Home
- Atlantic: Another World
- Xeneris: Eternal Rising
- New Horizon: Conquerors
- Issa: Another World
Edguy: Monuments
Edguy: Monuments
Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal
5.0/5.0
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Nuclear Blast Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 05.07.2017
Normally I don't review compilation albums. But for Edguy an exception can be made for some very good reasons. First, on a very personal note, Edguy was the single most influential metal band to bring me back to heavy metal, after suffering ten years of grunge, nu-metal, and Garth Brooks in the Nineties. Also, there probably wouldn't be a Dangerdog Music Review site had it not for 2001's Mandrake and the subsequent Burning Down The Opera live album.
Edguy
But on the band's side of things, Monuments celebrates Edguy's 25 years in the heavy metal business, and they're doing it in style. The CD/DVD package includes 22 of their best songs, five new songs, and one old unreleased song from the Savage Poetry recording session, Reborn In The Waste. Also included on the DVD is the complete 2004 Hellfire Club concert film from Sao Paulo, and all their promotional music video. If you order the special limited edition the package also comes with book featuring a history of the band. I know all that sounds like a commercial, but it's also a fitting celebration of the band.
But what of the new songs, you ask. Solid Edguy, pure and simple: that mixture classic heavy metal with nuances of power metal and nods to melodic hard rock. Here's a taste of three. Open Sesame is a powerful racing metal tune, driven by fast riffs and thundering drums. Wrestle The Devil bristles with sharp riffs over a crisp rock groove. Landmarks is pure Edguy power metal, brisk and bristling from the start, with one of those Tobias Sammet soaring refrains. As for Reborn In Waste, it sounds like early Edguy. You know, reinterpreting classic NWoBHM for the next generation. Sammet's voice definitely sounds a bit younger. But you'll be more surprised by the presence of a keyboard solo, and ominous lack of a guitar solo.
Generally, most compilation albums are done for the fans, but they can be a good introduction to uninitiated as well. Monuments serves both groups well. Yet, of most importance, Monuments is a fine celebration of Edguy's 25 year career, one that I'm sure that's not ending anytime soon. Easily 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.
The Bottom Line
Monuments is a fine celebration of Edguy's 25 year career, one that I'm sure that's not ending anytime soon. Easily recommended.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
By far, Sweden's Eclipse is one of my favorite bands. Always consistent and always entertaining, Eclipse has been delivering their 21st century version of melodic metal rock since songwriter, producer ... [ Read More ]