Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Mollo, Dario & Martin, Tony
Label: Frontiers Records
Release: 2002
Length: 61:03
Rating: 4/5
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On “The Cage 2” the songs are finished and polished down to the smallest detail when you compare this album with the debut “The Cage”. Enough time passed between the first record (“The Cage”) and this sequel project for the brilliant ideas to pile up all over again. Even the opener “Terra Toria”, with the modern, warped sound of its first riff (grooved up like nobody’s business), is a big surprise, courtesy of Tony Martin and the tone of his voice, which is unbelievably clean, while the line in the pre-chorus is stylistically reminiscent of Robert Plant. In general, Martin sings these songs with plenty of color, hugely invested and going all in. The high ambient mood is also down to the keyboards of legend Don Airey (anyone still remember his fantastic solo adventure “K2”?) and to the contrast of the layered backing vocal lines that fill out the sound with great taste. Hey folks, Tony Franklin’s fretless bass is with us practically the whole way!
All the songs are compact, and Mollo doesn’t let his guitar ego take over at a single point. With his talent he adapts brilliantly to the motifs that shape the songs. I can’t help it, Mollo is closest to Malmsteen. Fast, clean and precise work of a true master. Ornaments of lightning-fast arpeggios, when the man simply can’t stop, slides and tremolo bends, are perfectly implanted inside the transitions or intro sections of the tracks. The dynamics come from the stylistic variety between the songs, which are a perfect collision of hard rock, classic metal, AOR leaps and even bluesy detours. “Balance Of Power”, whoa, what a wild mayhem!!! The vocal line in it comes seriously close to Dio.
One of the finest tracks, and pure electric orgasm, is definitely “Amore Silencioso”. The Hammonds ring out here for the first time. The Kashmir-flavored middle section, backed by percussion and fretless bass, is adorned with Arabic scales that blend in harmoniously with the basic classical approach. And one of the most beautiful songs? “Poison Rosses”! Sad, man, the way it can knock a person flat to the point of tears.
The unpredictable “Wind Of Change” is also pure fantasy, with a brutally difficult vocal line (the chorus) that Tony fights his way through fantastically. Considering that Tony was being treated for a damn awful disease, cancer, while recording, this deserves special admiration.
The perfection of guitar madness and classic compositions, brought to you by these old tomcats who still won’t quit and keep “feeding” us with their creations, “The Cage 2” is yet another marvel of the immortality of the steel legacy and a total victory of truth and sincerity of expression through the art of music, all along the line! What guitar shredding, aaaaaa!!! Pure hell!
Uf, hot, hot, hot!!! It was about time. Ex-Black Sabbath legendary vocals meet Italian Malmsteen guitar sonic drive. O.K. I went to far. What those two guys served us are 12 superb first class compact Hard Rock pieces, that are spiced up with classical Heavy Metal power drive and AOR touches. Everything sounds so fluid. Dario`s filligranic guitar artwork in solos, bridges, supersonic intros or outros never overdominates the basic structure of songs.
Tony can really change his vocal abilities. Like a chameleon. In opener “Terra Toria” his vocal line reminds of Robert Plant, also by Tony`s singing. Tony went through some difficult times during recording sessions for this album. He was seriously ill (cancer), fortunately everything worked out fine for him. And having this fact in mind when hearing his superb vocal performance, this deserves a full respect. Tony at his best. In “Balance Of Power” you`ll get an impression that Dio joined in on vocals. Uf, what power carries this piece. Most difficult vocal lines are performed brilliantly in chorus of “Wind Of Change” (when verse “More Than These ……” begins) and later on Led Zeppelin cover “Dazed And Confused”. All the time the band is trying to achieve wider sound with adding some great back vocal harmonies.
First highlight of the record is “Amore Silencioso”. This song fluids from late gothic-romantic Black Sabbath opening riff and flows in the middle section into oriental “fill-in” supported by percussion and fretless bass. This Arab melos fantastically collides with classical approach through the song. Just feel the chemistry that flows here. Tony plays the violin here. Don`t worry about keyboard work. It was done by Don Airey, another great composer. Does anybody remember his solo adventure under the name “K2”? This record is done sincerely and soulfully. Another proof that “old good buddies” still won`t lay down their arms. Music is their way of life. Another first class invention.
Line-up
Tony Martin – vocals
Dario Mollo – guitar
Don AIrey – keyboards
Dario Patti – keyboards
Tony Franklin – bass guitar
Roberto Gualdi – drums
Production
Dario Mollo
Track list
1. Terra Toria
2. Overload
3. Life Love And Everything
4. Balance Of Power
5. Amore Silenzioso
6. II (Instrumental)
7. Wind Of Change
8. Theater Of Dreams
9. What A Strange Thing Love Is
10. Dazed And Confused
11. Guardian Angel
12. Poison Roses
