This is a near perfect disc for me - sure it is one of those cds that
is easy-digested, really doesn't include anything "new" and honestly
isn't much more than an old-fashioned hard rock album. But the fact
is, that TEN is one of those bands that never make themselves out to
be anything more than that - they play melodic hard rock, and they are
proud of doing it! "Babylon" is only the band's fifth studio disc, however,
they have already accomplished more than a lot of bands that have been
around for ages. They are number one in Japan (which says a lot...),
and in the rest of the World they are heralded as one of the best a.o.r./melodic
metal acts around. They unite the best of the 70's basic hard rock with
the more excuisit melodic metal style of the eighties, adding a touch
of the nineties heavy feel to it, and of course providing it with a
stellar production worthy of the year 2000. A truly great album, and
one with a lyrical concept added to it.
Actually, the concept tends to get too much in the way of the music,
as the tracks are divided each others by some "stupid" talk, that should
exemplify the storybook, but to me don't do much other than bother me.
That aside, Gary Hughes once more proves himself as one of the great
songwriters of our time, with an ear for melody that almost transcends
what anyone else is capable of. This is HUGE! Songs like the fantastic
opener "The Stranger", the superb "Black Hearted Woman" or my personal
fave, the grandiose ballad "Valentine" are all amazingly wellwritten
and wellperformed by a band that kicks some major ass to most others.
Guitarhero Vinny Burns really lets it all rip with his fantastic soloing,
and on the heaviest song of the album, "Thunder In Heaven", this guy
is simply put BRILLIANT! Ten is one of my fave bands within this melodic
style, and "Babylon" is a great album, that doesn't change my mind on
that! If it wasn't for the irritating "talk-sections" in between the
songs, and the song "Timeless" reminding just a tad too much of Pet
shop Boy's "It's A Sin", this would have blown me all the way....
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