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Reviewer: David Weddle
When I heard that heavy metal legend Blaze Bayley had just released a new album, I had to check it out. I know that Blaze has had a tough time recently, and I did worry that this would have had a negative impact on the album. So I tentatively clicked play on 'Circle of Stone' and hoped for the best. I needn't have worried, in fact, the opening track, 'Mind Reader' Blaze, even says, "They can knock me down, but I won't stay down." And boy, oh boy, did this fella get back up? His voice is so powerful right from the start.
Throughout the album, there is an energy that is so infectious. Blaze's ability to write a good lyric is something that is evident in songs like 'Tears in the Rain', whereas his incredible vocal range gets a good old stretch in 'Rage'. Incidentally, 'Rage' has a real kick-ass guitar solo that scratches the solo itch good and proper. The album is crammed full of stunning riffs, all backed up with glorious basslines that keep the rhythm going, and the drums are as hard and heavy as you like. Sometimes you hear a heavy metal album and it sounds good, but it just lacks that something special that you find in performers like Blaze.
There are so many highlights that it would take too long to list them all, but the intro to 'Ghost in the Bottle' is definitely up there, as the theatrical vocals in 'The Broken Man', the guitar in that track has a beautiful tone that matches the feeling of the lyrics perfectly. The album's namesake, 'Circle of Stone', is full of heavy metal at its best. The album features vocals from Tammy-Rae Bois, finishing with the highly emotive, 'Until We Meet Again', Tammy-Rae's voice works so well with Blaze's almost theatrical performance. A stunning end to an incredible album.
I went into this album not sure what to expect and finished listening to it with a real sense of joy in what I had heard and a deep respect for the sheer determination of Blaze. A true talent with which I am so pleased continues to wow with his creativity and dedication to a genre that is ever richer for having Blaze Bayley as a part of it.
Throughout the album, there is an energy that is so infectious. Blaze's ability to write a good lyric is something that is evident in songs like 'Tears in the Rain', whereas his incredible vocal range gets a good old stretch in 'Rage'. Incidentally, 'Rage' has a real kick-ass guitar solo that scratches the solo itch good and proper. The album is crammed full of stunning riffs, all backed up with glorious basslines that keep the rhythm going, and the drums are as hard and heavy as you like. Sometimes you hear a heavy metal album and it sounds good, but it just lacks that something special that you find in performers like Blaze.
There are so many highlights that it would take too long to list them all, but the intro to 'Ghost in the Bottle' is definitely up there, as the theatrical vocals in 'The Broken Man', the guitar in that track has a beautiful tone that matches the feeling of the lyrics perfectly. The album's namesake, 'Circle of Stone', is full of heavy metal at its best. The album features vocals from Tammy-Rae Bois, finishing with the highly emotive, 'Until We Meet Again', Tammy-Rae's voice works so well with Blaze's almost theatrical performance. A stunning end to an incredible album.
I went into this album not sure what to expect and finished listening to it with a real sense of joy in what I had heard and a deep respect for the sheer determination of Blaze. A true talent with which I am so pleased continues to wow with his creativity and dedication to a genre that is ever richer for having Blaze Bayley as a part of it.