Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Unisonic
Label: Ear Music Records
Release: 2012
Running time: 50:10
Rating: 4/5
Unisonic are a new German power metal supergroup, pulling under one roof former members of Helloween, Asia, Krokus, Gotthard and Iron Savior, as well as current members of Gamma Ray, Pink Cream 69, Avantasia, Place Vendome and Sunstorm. Enough to prick up your ears, right? At least for all you surviving die-hard defenders of the melodic principle in metal.
Musically speaking, the quintet Unisonic isn’t bringing a revolution to the scene. But the names that make up the lineup are so big to begin with that their mere appearance on the scene makes a significant contribution to cementing the power metal legacy. That fact will be hugely on display once Unisonic hit the road on their concert tours. Above all, it’s the fact that a supergroup like this keeps today’s power metal (with all its heritage) in the spotlight for the masses. The debut »Unisonic« is really a fortunate blend of influences from the members’ parent bands, as well as the projects they’ve been involved in over their careers (Place Vendome, Avantasia). Quite literally.
The opening track Unisonic is an interesting culmination of Speed King (Deep Purple) – the verse – and early Gamma Ray crossed with »Keeper era« Helloween (the chorus). Souls Alive is a song tailor-made for fans of Avantasia, early Edguy, and Gamma Ray too. The somewhat darker I’ve Tried is, from head to toe, a track that could land on any Pink Cream 69, Place Vendome or Sunstorm album, which means Unisonic shamelessly reach for elements of melodic rock too. The positively minded Never To Late is a real mix of Helloween in their “Keeper era” and early Gamma Ray, cut, of course, to fit the sound of modern times.
Michael Kiske, with his signature, instantly recognizable vocals, is of course the main culprit for why Kai Hansen’s guitar phrases, in the string of impressions across the album, lean consistently toward early Helloween, if we weigh the shares of Gamma Ray and Helloween impressions on the record. The straight-up hard rock riff in the verse of Renegade deepens the feeling of distant ties to the Swiss guitar wizard Mandy Meyer and his stints with Gotthard and Krokus. The song then morphs, remarkably compatibly, into a typical power metal chorus melody that will once again be close to the hearts of early Edguy fans. King For A Day surprises with a classic hard rock riff in the intro and an underlying rhythm that fans of the Survivor school and their hit Eye Of A Tiger will have no trouble cracking, though the chorus of this song is a different story. With We Rise you know right away that it grew out of Kai Hansen’s backyard and would work great on any Gamma Ray album, especially »Somewhere Out in Space«. But this song has one peculiarity. The middle instrumental section is cut in a classic rock mold, following the template of Rock Bottom (U.F.O.) – the chord layout and the way the solos develop over it, defiantly biting their way through the crossfire of both lead guitarists, which proves, just like in the opening »Purple-ish« Unisonic, the very origins of the quintet, who grew up on the sounds of classic bands like U.F.O., Rainbow, Deep Purple…
This quintet of seasoned music gurus is so experienced in arrangements that you can predict how each song will unfold in advance. The mold is strictly drawn and defined. It’s precisely this exceptional feel for creating compactly infectious melodies in the lead motifs, and for merging them into the album’s fully fluid dynamics, that brings the quintet a poker hand of aces every time, fully convincing and making Unisonic completely credible in what they do. The knack for building a gripping, theatrical, drama-filled atmosphere loaded with bombast, reaching a »crescendo« in extremely catchy choruses, each of which is an atmospheric high point of its song, is fully capitalized on here. With the names behind Unisonic’s music, it really couldn’t be any other way. Simple as that. They’re far too experienced to let any incompatible note sneak into the arrangement lines. Even at the risk of raising a sense of genericness. That’s just the price of any story like this.
Kiske keeps up the fantastic singing that earned him a big reputation and a highly prized pedigree among fans of Euro power metal back in his Helloween days. His clean, dominant voice is the foundation for capitalizing on the full melodic payoff and the pomp theater on the album. The rest of the Unisonic lineup holds up an excellent backdrop for him. Bassist Dennis Ward’s production is once again the work of divine hands. The instruments are colorfully contrasted, and so are the moods; the implanting of a real power metal punch and melodicism is outstanding, and the same goes for the captured sense of “liveliness” on this album. All of this is the standard demanded today, the guarantee of your artistic credibility.
Similar feelings to the ones the newborn Unisonic stir up on the scene with their 2012 debut were conjured in 2003 by Masterplan with their debut too (judging by the names on the roster, likewise a super power metal outfit), though of course in their own light of delivering the Euro power metal legacy. »Unisonic« is an excellent album, an effective blend of influences from the parent bands and projects the members belong to. That blend guarantees Unisonic’s distinctiveness, teasing just right with the captured elements of the musical heritage of the members’ parent bands. That’s why all fans of the melodic principle in heavy metal will be lighting up for »Unisonic« in hordes. Especially fans of power metal of European origin! As for fans of »Keeper era« Helloween, the album »Unisonic« has already “bought” them anyway, right from the moment of release.
Lineup
Michael Kiske – vocals
Kai Hansen – guitar
Mandy Meyer – guitar
Dennis Ward – bass
Kosta Zafiriou – drums
Production
Dennis Ward & Kai Hansen
Track list
1. Unisonic (03:27)
2. Souls Alive (05:15)
3. Never too Late (04:29)
4. I’ve Tried (04:55)
5. Star Rider (04:19)
6. Never Change Me (03:44)
7. Renegade (04:38)
8. My Sanctuary (04:17)
9. King For a Day (04:10)
10. We Rise (04:40)
11. No One Ever Sees Me (06:16)
