Dave and Co. are back after 11 years of wait (if you were actually waiting). And I thought Manowar takes a long time between records. Lets start with vocals first. Dave’s vocals are sounding just like on their self titled ‘87 or even Coverdale/Page. I really could not tell much difference. I mean this in a good way. His nicely aged smoke-covered vocal chords are in great shape and it shows on the record. Everything from sensual-baritones to metal-scream face peelers is featured here, so I’ll give him good grade for the pipe work.

Ahh the lyrics.. Cheese as usual. Dave’s constant obsession with love themes and some kind of “lost love” is getting little loony, but again, it complements music perfectly. I just think those kind of themes restrict artists in making any kind of serious metal/hard rock statment. “Lay Down Your Love”, “Fool In Love”, “All For Love”. Love , love love. We get it.

Onto the songs. On “All I need, All I want” looks like Dave insisted using same effects and tone as on “Is This Love”. Similarity is uncanny. “All for Love” is very Thin Lizziesh tune in every sense of the word. Even Dave’s vocal sounded like Phil’s on some of the passages. Rest of the album borrows every trick from Coverdale/Page album. My favorites are: title track, “Best Years” and “Lay Down Your Love”.

Probably the best part of the album is listening Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach totally ripping their guitars apart. Man, some of the solos and riffs are just beyond juicy. I could actually imagine juices running from their axe’s necks on some of the licks. (That might’ve sounded kinda gay but I don’t care. It’s that good!) One way o tell them apart while listening their solos is to remember that Doug has that strong juicy vibrato, while Reb is more clean and little faster.

It’s one of those records where you don’t need more than one or two listen to get the picture. In other words, it cannot really grow on you if you don’t like it the first time. Production is top notch. Not too polished sound lives enough room for live feel. All in all, this is very enjoyable yet predictable record. Very mid-tempo album with just couple ballads. Last track being an almost a ballad. I say JUST a couple (one is more than enough) because Dave is known for his sentimental side more than anything else. I’ll bet it sounds phenomenal live, but lacks intelligence and seriousness as all Whitesnake albums do; however, definitively an album worth listening more than twice.

Rating:

Tracklist:

1. “Best Years”
2. “Can You Hear the Wind Blow”
3. “Call on Me”
4. “All I Want All I Need”
5. “Good to Be Bad”
6. “All for Love”
7. “Summer Rain”
8. “Lay Down Your Love”
9. “A Fool in Love”
10. “Got What You Need”
11. “‘Til the End of Time”
Album Lineup:

* David Coverdale – Vocals
* Doug Aldrich – Guitar
* Reb Beach – Guitar
* Timothy Drury – Keyboards
* Uriah Duffy – Bass
* Chris Frazier – Drums

Just got my tickets in the mail for Metal Masters Tour. Judas priest, Heaven and Hell, Motorhead and Testament on one stage. Most of those guys are in their mid to late fifties (Dio is in mid 60’s actually), but their attitude is still metal out the ass. God damn!

Four of us will embark on the historic metal journey to see these giants on August 19th, 2008 at Tinley Park, Chicago. I will post a review for the whole show once I’m back, but in the meantime here’s two new songs from upcoming Nostradamus. Just listen to that vicious scream Halford makes in the first part of Nostradamus songs.