Review Summary: A shift from traditional power metal to something that blends hard rock and power metal.
Edguy used to be a top tier German power metal band, but ever since they started to throw out some catchy hard rock songs that almost felt like a throwback to the 1980's glam metal scene – things for the happy-go-lucky power metal band kind of went downhill from their respected power metal roots. In 2006 they released
Rocket Ride which is the album that shifts them from a once prominent power metal band to more of a hard rock/metal band. The leading factor of the noticeable change dealt with the change of their musical formula: the decrease of fast paced drums to a slower paced rock style, a significant amount of guitar solos were also decreased. But they haven't exactly left their roots completely. Tobias Sammet still has powerful vocals throughout every single chorus, the only difference is that he picked up a sleazy verse voice that makes this album so much more enjoyable.
But the change of their style isn't exaclty noticed right off the bat when the listener hears the opening 'epic' entitled
Sacrifice. The song itself has some of the heaviest riffs off the entire album along with power metal vocals, it only hits the listener that they've changed until the solo comes in as well as if you pay attention to the guitars and drums throughout the entire eight minute song. Don't get me wrong or anything, it's a great song but it may be overbearing for some due to it's length, just like the seven minute ballad 'epic',
The Asylum. Which is a song that builds up on itself as the song progresses in length, it's decent at best, and quite enjoyable for what it is. It even comes close to being a major highlight off the album, but I see it differing in other opinions based on its length and the song structure. Besides that, other songs such as
Superheroes,
Rocket Ride,
Catch of the Century,
Wasted Time, and
Out of Vogue are classic Edguy songs that fuse Hard Rock and Power Metal together, and they all come out rationing each other with catchy choruses and respectable solos that range from being decent to good. While songs like
Save Me and
The Asylum are ballad like songs that are catchy and recommended, but they could have been better if there were certain little things added such as a solo or a shorter song structure.
The album itself doesn't falter into the dark by being a bad album, it's actually a fairly reasonable listen that doesn't demand too much from the listener – the album border lines on a mainstream hard rock album with a blend of power metal. But that shouldn't be any sort of turn off to the listener. There's even throw back moments in the album that reminds the listener of the glam metal scene that was prevalent in the 1980's with bands like Guns N' Roses or Motley Crue. While there are moments that have the 1980's glam metal vibe, only one song can truly captivates that euphemism, and that song is entitled
***ing With Fire (Hair Force One). While the song itself is sleazy in its own right, it sure is an excellent album closer that has a powerful chorus that will have the listener singing along with it in the end. Generally speaking, every album has that one song that's just down right retarded; on
Rocket Ride the album filler/skipper/joke (whatever you call it) is entitled
Trinidad, which is a “tribute” song to the little Caribbean island. Trust me it's not worth listening to, but if you're bored and want a fun song that will cheer you up or something then you might want to check it out, but I don't recommend it.
To conclude,
Rocket Ride is an overlooked album within Edguy's discography, though it may be their most mainstream as well. Basically what I'm saying, is that it's catchy as hell with simple song structures compared to their predecessors but it doesn't get the respect it deserves. Even if the album is that album that can be looked at as their “sellout” album that shifted their gears and what not, it really is an album worth the time for any power metal head or Edguy fan.
Recommended songs:
Rocket Ride
Save Me
Superheroes
***ing With Fire (Hair Force One)
Catch of the Century
Out of Vogue
