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Shadowman- Ghost In The mirror
- Price:
- €9.99
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- Escape Music
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(1 product review)
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Product Description
Steve Overland (FM) – Lead Vocals, Steve Morris (Heartland) - Guitars / Keyboards, Chris Childs (Thunder) – Bass, Harry James (Thunder) – Drums, Steve Millington: (Sad Cafe / 10 cc / Wax) Keyboards
It has been four years since the debut album by Shadowman was released (“Land of the Living” ESM098). The album was warmly received by all who had a penchant for good old British melodic hard rock. As you would expect Shadowman had elements of both Heartland and FM deeply embedded in its grooves, yet it was highly original and was often touted as the best British melodic release of 2004.
Two years later in 2006 and we have an eagerly awaited follow up called “Different Angles” (ESM 127), an important album for this quartet that also includes both Harry James and Chris Childs of Thunder. A few chords into the song “Learn to live without you” and it is fairly obvious that we are in for a real treat. That unmistakable guitar trademark sound of Steve Morris and the vocals of Steve Overland shine through at a very early stage. Somehow they make their music sound effortless; the driving riff throughout “In the Shadows” is testament to this making it such a classic song.
As we all very well know Steve Overland has a remarkable vocal range, not only does it suit the classic melodic rock genre but he has a very bluesy side to his talent. His very recent release “Overland” (ESM170) is causing quite a stir across the world, and he is very much in the limelight at the moment.
Back to Shadowman: a band that is all about great rock music who will win you over with charm. Quality rock music is so hard to find these days and it is reassuring to know that it hasn’t lost its way. It is always hard to follow on from a near perfect album like “Land of the Living”, but these guys did it with “Different Angles” and here we are again, two years on with a perfect release in the shape of “Ghost in the Mirror”. What this releases gives us is an extension of the band’s already established sound, with some clever twists.
Check out the opener “No Man’s Land” with its warm vibe and effortless guitar work. There are no fillers on this CD, songs like “Road to Nowhere”, Fire and Ice” and “Keeper of my Heart” are all winners from start to finish. Undoubtedly their finest release to date “Ghost in the Mirror” will be eagerly awaited until its release later this year. A Contender for best release of 2008!
Samples:
Road To Nowhere, No Man's Land, Bad For You, Colour Of Your Love, Fire And Ice, Keeper Of My Heart, I've Been Wrong Before, It's Electric, Blues City, Outlaws, Hard Way, Little Miss Midnight
Product Reviews
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Shadowland - Ghost In The Mirror
Posted by Dave McKenzie on 5th Nov 2008
I’ll get straight to the point ‘Ghost In The Mirror’ is probably the best melodic rock album of the year and if you are not completely sold on it by the time you reach Colour Of Your Love, then I’m afraid it’s time to check for a pulse.
Given the quality of the people involved in Shadowman it is perhaps fair to say that expectations are always going to be high but Steve Overland, Steve Morris, Chris Childs, Harry James and Steve Millington really have come up with something special here and it's by far their strongest and most consistent effort of date, being harder edged than 2006’s ‘Different Angles’ and is packed full of energy, soul and emotion.
Opener ‘Road To Nowhere’ starts quite gently but comes with a bang, transforming into a high energy rocker, powerfully driven along by the Thunder rhythm section, trademark Morris solo and Overland’s emotion filled voice. Keyboards have a nice retro feel to them and this is very much to the fore on ‘No Mans Land’ which has a great chorus and captures a style that harks back to Kansas at their magnificent best, with frantic keyboard/guitar solos and a soaring vocal range that is also typified by Steve Walsh. On ‘Bad For You’, Shadowman slow things down a little with more of a soulful FM feel to it Overland’s vocal leading the way, beautifully complimented by Morris’s electric solo which transforms briefly into a lovely 12 string acoustic segment before getting back into full electric splendour.
The album picks up pace again, albeit briefly, for the catchy and energy laden ‘Colour Of Your Love’, before settling into three slower tracks. This could have lost my interest a little had it not been for the strength of the songs. ‘Fire and Ice’ is classic, emotion drenched Overland but ‘I’ve Been Wrong Before’ probably edges it out in the emotion stakes and a ballad it may be, but there’s a real slow burning power in the way the bass, drums and guitar are used on what is the longest track on the album. The pace picks back up for the final five tracks but there’s certainly no fillers to be found, ‘Blues City’ is catchy and high tempo and there is plenty of stylistic variation on the guitar work when you listen to ‘Outlaws’ and ‘The Hard Way’, which keeps things interesting. ‘Little Miss Midnight’ wraps things up nicely with a slightly bluesy Overland special.
Finally, a word of praise to Steve Morris who produced the album and Tommy Hansen’s excellent, balanced mix which gives ‘Ghost In The Mirror’ such powerful feel to the sound. In summary, this will be the album that Shadowman will be remembered for in their own right but any FM fan waiting patiently for the next chapter in that story really should give this a listen, you will not be disappointed.
Reviewed by www.hardrockhouse.com