Evidence One - The Sky Is The Limit
AFM Records
Melodic Heavy Metal
10 songs (46'40)
Release year: 2007
Evidence One, AFM Records
Reviewed by Marty
My top 2 favorite releases so far this year in the melodic heavy metal/hard rock genre have been Cornerstone's Two Tales Of One Tomorrow and the Allen/Lande follow up to The Battle entitled The Revenge. I was pretty sure that the Allen/Lande album was going to fend off all challengers and remain at the top of the heap by year's end....that is until this little gem found it's way into my hands. I remember reading the review for Evidence One's first album Criticize The Truth by Danny here at Metal Reviews some years back before I joined the team. However, my first real introduction to this band was their last album Tattooed Heart. That album was an excellent example of just how to put together a solid heavy metal album with lots of melody and still retain the all-important "heaviness" to satisfy even the most discerning metal fan. Fast forward a few years and Evidence One now presents us with their third album, their best one yet, and also the first for their new label AFM Records.

Founding member and guitarist Robby Bobel has stepped aside from his guitar duties with Evidence One. He's still handling song-writing duties as before, but is now assuming all production responsibilities as well. Stepping in on guitar is Joerg Wartmann who does a very fine job of upholding the very high quality of this band's music. Tarot-like cards adorn the front cover of this new album with the cover of each of the band's first two albums represented with a card labelled E1, E2 etc. and E3 for this new album The Sky Is The Limit.

Aptly titled, the sky really is the limit if this band keeps going like it has. Easily my choice for the top melodic heavy metal album thusfar this year, Evidence One continues to deliver track after track of melodic yet heavy music with nothing less than the very best possible strong and powerful emotional vocals you could ever ask for by vocalist Carsten Schulz. The Sky Is The Limit is a great mix of mid tempo heavy metal, driving double bass fueled rockers and thundering riff-heavy metal anthems. This band has mastered the art of mid tempo melodic heavy metal with tracks like Can't Fight The Past, Rain Road and The Luxury Of Losing Hope. Driving and up tempo styles grace songs like Gallery Of Broken Glass, with it's Saxon-like qualities (especially the chorus section) as well as Mr. Madness which sees vocalist Carsten Schulz sounding a lot like Marc Storace of Krokus. The thundering heaviness really shines through on tracks such as Mindmines, with it's ominous and more abstract overtones as well as Propaganda, complete with big fat guitar riffs and Raging Winds; a song that uses a pounding heavy tempo and some very tasteful lead guitar work. The title track The Sky Is The Limit is a riff-laden gem in the classic Accept/Saxon vein with ripping power chord guitar and Won't Sleep Alone, although being a little atypical, fulfils the obligatory gut-wrenching and emotional power ballad quota that all of these sorts of albums inevitably have.

One can't say enough about Carsten Schulz' vocal performance on this album. He sings with such strength and power and the choruses to each and every song are exceptionally strong. Layered backing vocals push the melodic aspects of this band up a few extra notches and the use of lead guitar fills and harmonies adds fuel to the already raging inferno of this band's sound. Very prominent big, fat metal riffs grace many of the tracks with lots of emotional lead guitar work as well as some great shredding to cap off an almost perfect blend of heaviness and melody. Fans of bands like Gotthard, Bonfire and Pink Cream 69 as well as the classic melodic metal of the 80's will find lots to sink your teeth into here. All you disgruntled and frustrated Dokken fans out there (me included!)....look no further........

Killing Songs :
Can't Fight The Past, Gallery Of Broken Glass, Mr. Madness, Propaganda, Rain Road and The Sky Is The Limit
Marty quoted 88 / 100
Other albums by Evidence One that we have reviewed:
Evidence One - Tattooed Heart reviewed by Marty and quoted 84 / 100
Evidence One - Criticize The Truth reviewed by Danny and quoted 83 / 100
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