Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2025 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.
CELEBRATING 18 YEARS!
- 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
February 2025
- Craig Brooks: Desolation Freeway
- Mantric Momentum: Alienized
- Pattern-Seeking Animals: Friend Of All Creatures
- Crazy Lixx: Thrill Of The Bite
- Ginger Evil: The Way It Burns
- Dream Theater: Parasomnia
- Tyran: Tyran's Oath
- Saber: Lost In Flames
January 2025
- Wildness: Avenger
- The Ferrymen: Iron Will
- Labyrinth: In The Vanishing Echoes Of Goodbye
- Bonfire: Higher Ground
- The Big Deal: Electrified
- Landfall: Wide Open Sky
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
The Ladder: Sacred
It took me an extraordinary amount of time to secure The Ladder's latest work 'Sacred.' It has been out for more than half a year. Yet, it was worth my time, effort, and money. And everything that could be said about this album has been recorded elsewhere with high praise. I can only agree with my colleagues; this is exceptional melodic hard rock. Steve Overland (FM, Shadowman) is an incredible vocalist, sterling in precision of delivery. This album shine with great music.
I won't bore you with historical or production details for you can read them elsewhere. Suffice to say that this is some of the best melodic rock I've heard in 2007. Some of my favorite songs include the title track, 'Body & Soul, and the surreal and brilliant 'Here I Am.' 'Sea Of Love' is another track mysterious in composition and emotion. Curiously, there is a certain untouchable evocativeness to this work. At one time you're arrested by subtle and transitory rhythms and then plunged into heavy melodic rock; 'Make A Wish' is a fine example of this. To some this 'Sacred' may sound all too familiar. I beg to differ. Listen carefully and more than once. You will be surprised and pleased.
The Ladder's 'Sacred' may seem to revolve around vocalist Steve Overland. But there is more than meets the ears here. This is premium melodic rock produced by those who know the craft. Find it and buy it. Very recommended.
- Craig Hartranft
In Short
Steve Overland, one of Britain's most talented vocalists, returns with The Ladder's 'Sacred.' The whole album is pure melodic rock. Smooth and well produced, 'Sacred' is a fine album; a definite candidate for best in category for 2007.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
By now it's old news. Everybody in the prog universe knows: Dream Theater got the band back together. Drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy returned to his Dream Theater family to celebrate their 40th ... [ Read More ]