Album review: SILENT FORCE – Rising From Ashes

Silent Force - Rising From The Ashes

AFM Records [Released 27.01.14]

Alex Beyrodt is a busy man. Early in 2013 we had a Whitesnake orientated release from Voodoo Circle and then there is the imminent release of the new Primal Fear album Delivering The Black. In between these Alex has found time to resurrect his Silent Force band for the first time since Walk The Earth back in 2007.

For Rising From Ashes (don’t know what’s happened to the “The”…) Alex brings in Fair Warning’s Michael Bormann on vocals replacing D.C. Cooper who has returned to the Royal Hunt fold. In fact only drummer André Hilgers remains from the previous incarnation with Alex recruiting Primal Fear band mate Mats Sinner on bass and Italian keyboard maestro Alessandro Del Vecchio.

As I haven’t heard any of the band’s previous output, this release is taken purely on its own merits.

Things kick off deceptively with opener Caught In Their Wicked Game with its neo-classical metal flavour bringing Stratovarius to mind. From There Ain’t No Justice through to closer Kiss Of Death Silent Force settle down into a melodic rock format similar to Pink Cream 69, Gotthard or Shakra.

There are no exceptional songs on here but the quality is fairly consistent with Before You Run and You Gotta Kick It deserving specific mention – both are classic Pink Cream 69-like rockers the former complete with squealing keyboards and the latter with its AC/DC opening riff.

Living To Die is the only noticeable drop in standard sounding like a bland European Bon Jovi.

An impressive first listen…but dropped off on second listen. I’m happy to say that it is improving slowly with each subsequent play. If you like the aforementioned Pink Cream 69, Gotthard, Shakra sound then there is much to enjoy. ***½

Review by Phil Berisford

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