Album review: SERIOUS BLACK – As Daylight Breaks

AFM Records [Release date 16.01.15]

Serious Black can only be described as a European metal super-group due to the presence of former/current members of Helloween/Masterplan, Blind Guardian, Edenbridge, Visions of Atlantis and Bloodbound. Sounds extremely promising…

The band started as an idea by Roland Grapow and Mario Lochert back in late 2013. In January 2014 they were joined in a Munich studio by ex-Blind Guardian drummer Thomen Stauch, Edenbridge guitarist Dominik Sebastien and ex-Dreamscape keyboardist Jan Vacik. They eventually settled on American based Swede Urban breed (real name…who knows…).

Things kick off in style with the perfect power metal of I Seek No Other Life. The melodic rock of High and Low follows featuring some fluffy keyboards.

Sealing My Fate, Akhenaton, My Mystic Mind…the songs just pass by…all well played, concise and pleasant enough but nothing sticks in my head. Repeated plays don’t seem to help either.

Title track As Daylight Breaks starts with piano, orchestration and vocals and slowly builds into what can only be described as a power metal power ballad! Nice.

The artwork is poor…just who chose such a revolting shade of green??

Unfortunately the concept of this super-group is actually more exciting than the actual finished product. It’s not to say it’s bad but nothing really shines on here.

Enjoyable but ultimately not memorable enough…must try harder next time. ***½

Review by Phil Berisford

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 20 October 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 22 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 28 October 2024

THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 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)