Solid melodic Hard Rock!

Hardly any other band polarized their followers as ARP With each CD release you are either disappointed, once again heard the same thing, or very excited that the guitar maestro has evolved musically to not centimeters. I myself am a fan and have the ARP group heard several times live, but arrange me somewhere between these two extremes a. In short, I would like know that Axel times tried something new, it does not take a break in style, yes, to some extent would be enough, but it is also waiting in vain Mystica. The since the late 90s with Oceans Of Time chosen path is consistently continued and perfected. It was thought, with Kings and Queens, the goal would be achieved, we must now realize that it still goes on. There are a great compliment to me, because the new album drops compared to the great predecessor album Kings and Queens from barely. Concerning mixing and sound quality this CD is even better managed. What bothers me, however, unfortunately, increasingly, are indeed over the years increasingly sophisticated and refined solos of guitar master, but somehow all sound the same and partly washed out the character of one or the other well-composed songs. Well, that's just Axel`s unmistakable style, for it or just do not like to him. Nevertheless, less sometimes a little more. But now in detail to the new disk:

After the usual short intro The mysterious return some really memorable pieces follow with medium to fast pace. Rock the nation and Living A Lie and Losing the game should probably be pieces for the live performance, as well as my personal check out tip Mystica, which almost has Ohrwurmcharkter. Of course, in between must not be missing one or another ballad. Here is revealed, if at all, a little weakness on the various previous albums: No chance to live and Haunted Castle Serenade fall for me but to some so great ballads of recent years such as Silent Angel, Ashes from the Oath or Sea of ​​Evil from, but are not really bad.

Curse of the Damned is the culmination of this successful work, a mixture of ballad and mid-tempo piece that expresses something of the entire 17-year creative period of Watt separator. Overall, this album is like its predecessor much more rock mixed as Shadow Zone, which in retrospect is probably its weakest album of the last 10 years for me personally (but still good enough, probably an expression of Axel`s former relationship crisis).

Mystica is for all ARP fans a must, newcomers may initially better off with the now priced advantageous Kings and Queens, Masquerade Ball or Oceans of Time. Unfortunately, however, could not the originality and variability (yes, there you can at least hear them occasionally!) Of Black Moon Pyramid to achieve that respect. Sound quality for not approaching that result albums. For `s from me ultimately 4 stars.