Review by Stephen Pedicino
EDGUY…love them or hate them, they’ve always been fun to listen to. After basing their career on a platform of power metal, they deviated away from the genre with their 2006 release Rocket Ride. An accentuated hard rock influence had taken shape, and with their 2008 release, Tinnitus Sanctus, the shape was molded into their primary style.
Hmmm….is that a slightly bled, thorn-crowned Jesus on the cover? Yes, it is! Well now that they’ve brought Dr. J into the mix, my standards are heightened even more. You don’t put Jesus on your product unless it’s got balls! So how does Tinnitus Sanctus ranctus?
We begin with strict hard rock from a band that was once famous for cheese-filled power metal. “Ministry of Saints” is nothing you haven’t heard before. Mr. Sammet delivers those simple, hooking vocals in synch with uncomplicated riffs and drumming. If you know of the Swiss band Gotthard, you’ll hear many parallels in the style. Not horrible but definitely nothing original
“Sex Fire Religion” has a swaggering groove with a slower-paced tempo. Tobias Sammet takes the opportunity to brandish his newly improved vocal range, which I must say has impressed me. I used to find his voice annoying at times, but he’s sanded down the rough spots and delivers a great performance on the album.
Alright, two decent hard rock jams to start off...Have these Germans forgotten what power metal is? Could they tell you that Keeper of the Seven Keys was an album and not a Lord of the Rings title? “The Pride of Creation” answers both questions with a half-hearted ‘yes.’ A happy intro with a playfully quick melody does mediocre justice to what Edguy used to be. In essence, its power metal adulterated by the band’s increased implementation of hard rock. The song boasts sufficient energy but the chorus, a focal point of Edguy, is a bit weak and unoriginal (happy though!) The track is enjoyable though, and at the very least a reminder that Edguy still have a double bass.
You’ll notice that they guitars are MUCH less striking than other Edguy albums of the past. The drums and vocals take up a lot of space, leaving the guitar amplification and crunch restrained. This makes for a softer sound, which I suppose is appropriate for their shift in style. As previously mentioned, Tobias has made considerable steps forward with his voice. The other band members are….there….but musicianship isn’t precisely what Edguy are famous for. You’ll be treated to some good solos here and there, but the instruments only support the vocals for the most part. If you embrace Edguy as a hard rock band instead of a power metal band, digestion will be much smoother.
“Dragonfly” may sound wimpy and uninspired at first, but the chorus has a faint addition of an auxiliary choir that gives the track an epic feel. “Thorn Without A Rose” is that standard Edguy ballad which may make you cry for either good or bad reasons. “9-2-9” is a high quality track. It’s exceedingly catchy and uplifting in a more genuine way…Thinking about it, none of tracks on Tinnitus Sanctus are TERRIBLE. Its just that they leave more to be desired, like greater speed, power, or complexity in the rhythms. Too much emphasis on the chorus one could say…
“Speedhoven” is easily the most grandiose piece of music you’ll hear on Tinnitus Sanctus. Just under eight minutes in length, it will probably please the ears of an experienced power metalhead whose been desperately waiting for something like this throughout the whole cd. Think of the first two Avantasia albums if you want an idea of what it sounds like. A standout track with drama, aggression, and the strongest relic we have to the Edguy of old.
“Aren’t You a Little Pervert Too?” does the dignified honor of closing the album. Expect nothing more than the title implies. Edguy have never been known to take themselves that seriously, and the “song” shoves that ideology down your throat.
Edguy’s Tinnitus Sanctus furthers the steps their preceding Rocket Ride took away from actual power metal. You’ll find a couple of relics to what the band used to be, but this album is essentially hard rock with a distinct aim at broader commercial success. It may be easier to completely forget about this band’s past when judging the music. The days of Mandrake and Vain Glory Opera are a distant past. If you don’t expect power metal, then you’re not going to be terribly disappointed. Some songs are ultra catchy and none are repulsive enough to induce vomit. And although the style is hard rock, most of the tracks have their own distinct feel and don’t fade into a bur of interchangeability. However, the album just feels plain and marginalized at some points, in turn leaving a lot of open space. If these Germans doesn’t deliver something big with their next album, Edguy may be Edgone (figure I’d close with a cheap pun).