Album review: KISKE SOMERVILLE – City of Heroes

Frontiers Records [Release Date 17.04.15]

Despite the rather unimaginative name, some of rock’s most respected names are behind this project. The singers are former Helloween and more recently Place Vendome singer Michael Kiske and Trillium singer and vocal coach Amanda Somerville but equally significantly a couple of Primal Fear members in guitarist Magnus Karlsson and bassist Mat Sinner, both of whom have a resume as long as your arm with European metal bands.

Five years after a debut album the protagonists are back with an album mainly written by Messrs Sinner and Karlsson, and the combination is a winning one which can have appeal to fans of melodic rock, traditional European power metal and the burgeoning female fronted symphonic metal scene.

‘City of Heroes’ is a stunning opener, powerful and guitar heavy but with big choruses and excellent use of backing and harmony vocals.

The two vocalists combine perfectly as they trade verses, both with soaring crystal clear voices, though it is Amanda who appears to take the lion’s share of the choruses. Her voice has a real melodic, almost poppy, feel which is brought out by the spacious arrangements on ‘Walk On Water’, ‘Lights Out’ and ‘After The Night’.

Other highlights include ‘Ocean Of Tears’, a ballad enlivened by a great closing solo from Magnus and ‘Open Your Eyes’, which with its double kick drums is perhaps the nearest to Michael’s days in Helloween when they were seminal power metal pioneers. ‘Right Now’ ends on an anthemic note an excellent album. These studio collaborations do not always work, but on this occasion the ingredients have blended well to make an excellent album with wide appeal. **** 1/2

Review by Andy Nathan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 24 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 26 November 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)