Album review: GUILD OF AGES – Rise
Escape Music [Release date 29.06.18]
Guild Of Ages are this year’s ‘Missing In Action’ band now returning to action, following on from the return of Boulevard last year. They called it a day in 2002 before being tempted back for the farewell Firefest show in 2014 and they have now releasing their first album in nearly twenty years. The band’s line-up has remained intact since 1994, namely Anthony ‘Antz’ Trujillo (Guitars, keyboards, vocals), Danny Martinez Jr (Lead Vocals, guitars), James Lostetter (Bass) and Steve Stuntz (Drums, vocals).
After the suitably titled ‘Intro’ instrumental Guild Of Ages show their love of a little prog on ‘Deep In Heaven’, that deftly mixes melodic rock and a few extended musical passages. The song’s intro sweeps in on a glorious mix of keys, strings and guitar.
Their love of damn fine hard rock tune comes through on ‘Around The Sun’, which features a monster of a chorus and the band’s trademark harmony vocals. This song along should be enough to entice you into listening further. The other big hook filled tune is ‘I’ll Keep Burnin’ which rattles along with another memorable chorus and a song that brings its own sunshine!
Of course there is a ballad or two, with ‘Ever Road Leads Me Home’ a song that sweeps the listener along in a sea of musical emotion. Guild Of Ages never shied away from heavier songs in the past and continue to do so on this album with both ‘Awaken’ and ‘All Fall Down’ tapping into the band’s heavier sound, not unlike label mates Mass.
A fine return by Guild Of Ages and ‘Rise’ is highly recommended to existing fans and anyone who enjoys modern melodic hard rock. Even better news the band’s back catalogue, including the CITA albums, are due to be re-issued and re-mastered by Escape Music, good times! ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
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