Showcase Album for November
2000
TRACK LISTING 1. THE LAST VIKING. 2. BURNING EYES. 3. VALHALL SCUFFLE. 4. FADING AWAY. 5. FOREST SONG. 6. IN THE MIRROR. 7. CLOSE TO YOU. 8. CARRY ME. 9. WINTER BATTLE. 10. ALONE. 1999 HEPTAGON RECORDS. |
PREVIOUS RELEASES Johansson - Sonic Winter. Jens Johansson - Fission. Johansson Bros & Allan Holdsworth - Heavy Machinery. |
RELATED RELEASES Stratovarius - Infinite [Jens Johansson] Yngwie Malmsteen - Fire & Ice [Goran Edman] Symphony X - Twilight In Olympus [Michael Romeo] |
Well this album is quite possibly one of the most obscure gems you are ever likely to stumble across. How can an album featuring Jens and Anders Johansson [ex Yngwie Malmsteen], Goran Edman [ex Malmsteen] and Michael Romeo [Symphony X] be anything less that awesome? Well actually the first few spins of the album showed to me that it was a little average, but repeated spins later and I am blown away. Yes this is not an immediate album, rather a collection of tracks that take a while to get under your skin and once there will be cherished for eternity! Leaving behind the more classic rock direction of the first Johansson album, 'The Last Viking' gives away its style just from the title. This is basically pure neo-classical metal and if this was a Malmsteen album it would be considered the best of his career bar none! So instead of Yngwie we have Mike Romeo who's playing is as faultless as ever and although in a more simpler setting than Symphony X's progressive extravaganza's, its shows what stunning hands this dude has. However the spotlight is really reserved for Jens Johansson who is blinding throughout. Goran Edman sounds the best he ever has to these ears and those Scandinavian tones are enough to send chills of delight down your spine. |
1. THE LAST VIKING (5.05) A rumbling of guitar and drums builds before Jens enters with a superb blast of Organ, sounds huge and fills the room with a chilling ambience, this leads to the inevitable and Goran Edman takes flight - "The day is coming to an end, and darkness is my only friend, adrift in the ocean, I'm lost in emotion, the ship is my cradle I long for the stars". As you may have guessed the lyrics are about Viking's and I must admit at first this made me go 'what'? But they are actually really great and pretty soon you'll be wanting to build a long ship and invade another country! The interplay between the musicians is superb and it really does create a confident sound. The solos are as good as expected and everything has started in fine form. Jens finishes the track with some solo Organ work that is as chilling as when it entered at the start. 2. BURNING EYES
(4.45) 3. VALHALL SCUFFLE (5.27) 4. FADING AWAY (4.45) 5. FOREST SONG (4.50) 6. IN THE MIRROR [4.37] 7. CLOSE TO YOU [3.41] 8. CARRY ME [4.23] 9. WINTER BATTLE [5.35] 10. ALONE [5.08] |
'The Last Viking' is something very special indeed. The Nordic feel mixed with the musical talents on offer combine to create a powerhouse of an album. Every musician involved shines and each track wins without doubt. Its quite rare to find an album of this caliber and magic but that's exactly what 'The Last Viking' is and really you should find it a home in your collection. The Johansson brothers have made the strongest album of their careers here and with the tally of great bands they have been in that alone tells you the caliber of the material. Michael Romeo whilst not as rampant or dazzling as on Symphony X cd's lays down exactly what the tracks need and this should be considered an essential part of his catalogue, whilst Goran Edman gives his best vocal performance ever to these ears, [and that's coming from someone who worships 'Fire & Ice'!] Quite simply you must buy this album, throw it in your cd player and give it a few weeks allowing the icy Swedish vibes to get into your system. You will NOT be disappointed. RATING |