Album review: THE FERRYMEN – One More River To Cross

Frontiers [Release date: 21.01.21]

The Ferrymen are Magnus (Freefall/ Heart Healer) Karlsson, Ronnie (Lords Of Black/ Rainbow) Romero and Mike (Rage/ Axel Rudi Pell) Terrana.

One More River To Cross is their third album on Frontiers, and this is a much more considered affair. Yes, it can be categorised as Melodic Metal, but the band have shaken off much of the DIO/Primal Fear baggage that tended to weigh down the previous albums.

The competing tensions of power metal traditions versus the freedoms of a more melodic, open handed sound had run their course with on the trio’s previous recordings. And now, this new release is nudging the needle of the band’s stylistic compass toward a more personalised musical style.

The songwriting is sharper, more focused. The songs are in the image of this experienced, professional trio … each track arrives on time, does the job it’s paid for and gets out again.

The PR men talk of huge vocals, epic song structures, mind bending drumming, and… yes, all of the above are present and correct, but the trio have stepped back from the edge with One More River To Cross. There is restraint.

As with any kind of heavy metal variant, there is mood and there is emotion, but there’s precision here too, with the measured arrangements creating their own clearly delineated melodic metal landscape.

Each track is compact, punchy, melodic… Karlsson’s production is flawless. There’s a distinctive clarity of detail on ‘The Last Wave’ and ‘Morning Star’… the band’s seamless merge of guitars, keys, drums and voice resonates like a ringing bell.

Similarly his arrangements. On ‘One Word’ and ‘Shut It out’ the band seems liberated, having apparently abandoned the limiting structures of the heavy metal formula. And still, the music can be fiercely dramatic at times.

Standout tracks ‘One More River To Cross’, ‘The Last Ship’ and ‘The Passenger’ come in a glorious rush of amplitude and unhurried complexity. Like most new tracks here, they sound unshackled from the trio’s collective past in this setting. ****

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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 3 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 29 October 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 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)