Happy New Year to one and all! A lot of new things arrived over the holidays to add to the list of albums to review, so here we go!
One of the more confusing bands around today, largely due to the fact that there are 4 different bands with the name MILLENIUM going at this moment in time. This is a repress of the band’s third album that was originally released in 2000 and is arguably their best recording. That’s mainly due to the fact the songs are really good and they have (on this release) the amazing Jorn Lande on vocals. This is a limited edition of 300 on blue vinyl through Escape Music, and they always do great presssings. Every vinyl release I have through them is really top quality.
This is modern melodic rock done right! Superb songs, great playing, and an excellent production by the band themselves. The band were formed in the US in 1997 by guitarist Ralph Santolla. I have to say, this is one of Jorn Lande’s highlights for me as he sings his ass off. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Mr Lande’s abilities, I would say he is a much better version of David Coverdale. Yes, he is that good! Highlights for me on this record are the awesome Wheels Are Turning, which has a great riff and groove, some excellent guitar breaks from Ralph Santolla, and a stellar vocal from Jorn, then Superstar which sounds like a heavier Journey – a really well written track with a great vocal melody.
Now for those of you who have been paying attention have probably guessed by now that I am not a big fan of ballads. In the seventies and eighties, record labels put pressure on rock bands to add a ballad or two to their albums as the the execs thought this would please the ladies and increase record sales. This album has 3 (Boo!!!) but one of them, I Will Follow, is really good as it’s done in a very blues style with some killer playing from Ralph. The last highlight for me on the album is close out track, Chasing Time – another great tune. I know I say this a lot but if this album was released 10 years earlier…?
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
