| Frontline The Seventh Sign | AOR Heaven |
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Frontline have pretty much kept on formula with this new release with the notable exception of really cranking the delivery of their new songs. Style wise nothing has changed, which will please long time fans, but the boys really do rock hard now. Previous the guys have been best known for being Germany's best AOR band. Their Journey friendly melodies have gradually increased in intensity and funnily enough, I wrote this about their last album: "Frontline are back with their toughest sounding record to date. Their first couple of albums held strong comparisons to Journey and sure enough, vocalist Stephan Kaemmerer retains that style to his voice. But Against The World is tougher than the AOR sounds of recent Journey. This time around the guys have a more distinct European hard rock feel - natural for a German band! - with songs more guitar driven than before. Keyboards still play a strong role - leading the intro for a few tracks, but generally act as a support to strong guitar parts." I have cut and paste that whole paragraph into this review, as I am having a strong case of deja-vu. Just as Against The World upped the anti from Right Attitude, so to does The Seventh Sign from Against The World – even more dramatically. This is heavier and tougher again and the band are now well and truly a part of the hard rock fraternity. The choruses, the melodies and the vocals (with required layered harmonies) remain chosen from the AOR handbook, but they are now delivered in a guitar fuelled, in your face, high octane, hard rock style. You Can't Tame Me immediately informs the listener something different is happening here. A more aggressive lead vocal drives the style change – this is a heavy in your face hard rocker, but with the band's trademark vocal sound and harmony style in place. This Lie continues to rock, but with the foot off the accelerator a little. The big chorus and the song's multiple layers are typical of the band's style and will appeal to long time fans. Like You Do is slower again, but this time heavier and darker. There is a certain intensity about this track and it suits the band. An album highlight. Getaway is closer to the bands more AOR roots, but still features a tough guitar sound. Another big chorus helps the melodic cause. Take Me Higher rocks big time – this is an uptempo track with soaring vocals and another strong chorus. Part Of My Life returns to the darker mood of Like You Do. Where's The Love rocks, but like Getaway touches on the band's earlier sound – especially with the very melodic layered chorus. Melt My Ice and This Is My Life are both a moody mid-tempo rockers that work well providing another tempo to the album. Closing the album is You Never Cried, a dark and moody mid-tempo rock track that could have been a ballad on any other album, but in keeping with the theme of this record, is played out as a rocker.
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19/08/04: ricardo - choykifox@yahoo.com
07/08/04: Peter - peterhangster@ntlworld.com
06/08/04: Freddy De Keyzer - freddydekeyzer@hotmail.com
14/07/04: Dave - vincam93@hotmail.com
14/07/04: brian heffernan - brian.heffernan1@ntlworld.com
Rating: 95
great album! yeah,it´s heavier than before, but you can't do the same album everytime. I love the cover version of "separate ways". I hope the next album be a live one and when is the dvd coming out?. Frontline is top of the class!
Rating: 70
hmm I'm not sure!! Why the guys changed there style???
Souds like Evidence One ! But i still prefer FRONTLINE!!!
O.K. its a good record!
Rating: 75
Personally I had expect a lot more from this record after reading the nice reviews.
O.K., it's good, but nothing more. I'm not happy with the fact it's more straight ahead and less AOR ! Wrong move, guys !
It's on the downhill and that's not a good sign !
I hope they return with an AOR masterpiece. And guys, not even 40 minutes on this disc is a PURE SHAME ! I can't repeat it enough ! We have to pay as much for less than 40 minutes than for a record containing 70 minutes of class music.
Than the choice is quickly made ! The during time of a record is very important for me !
Rating: 10
Yeah, this is real quality. The guys have nailed it to the point! I already liked the last releases but this really tops them - it does rock harder like Andrew says - and I love it! I am more of a hard rock than AOR fan and thus this album is right up my alley. Great guitars, vocals and arrangements. Good production - what else would you want. However, everyone who liked their last albums will love this one - despite going a little tougher. Like Jaded Heart on their last album, the step up in heavyness was a step in the right direction. Always great to see an already top notch band do even better. Get this one with the new Jaded Heart 'Trust' and you have the best releases if 2004 so far (and I doubt they will be topped - maybe only by a new Guns N' Roses, yeah right, Axl *g*)!
Rating: 85
Yeah it was different!! Being an AOR fan first and Frontline are part of this to me I was a bit dissapointed in this release but still had me going along with it especially the cover of Journeys "Seperate ways",its still very good but I can understand their need to try something different.Thanks
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