INSIDE HRH CD/DVD Review Highway Chile
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HOME BAND OF THE MONTH CD/DVD REVIEWS CONCERT REVIEWS INTERVIEWS NEWS DESK INSIDE HRH FEATURES Articles Book Reviews Contests Links INTERACT Contact Us Guestbook Forums MySpace Newsletter Search Staff MEDIA Gallery Juke Box LEFT OVERS CD/DVD Review Highway Chile Keeper of the Earth Mausoleum Records by Edwin van Hoof Staff Writer Comments: One of the underground's most cherished albums must be Storybook Heroes from Dutch metal band Highway Chile. An album packed with classic, simple and pure rock with metallic edges and composed around inventive riffs and hooklines. Together with Robert Soeterboek (Ayreon, Star One, Vulture, etc), Atilla Szabo and Edwin Den Haag (both Blind Justice), founding members Ernst van Ee (dr.) and Martin Mens (g.) reunited in 2002 for a clubtour and live recording which was hailed by European fans. Highway Chile's reunion was fruitful, but who would have thought it would lead to a 'new' album? On Keeper of the Earth the lineup has been shuffled once again; Soeterboek has been replaced by Stan Verbaak (Helloïse), where Szabo has been replaced by Gert Nijboer. Especially Verbaak's vocals add more fuel to the fire, taken in consideration that he and van Ee were the founders of Helloïse with whom they were raved as one of the best bands ever to have come from The Netherlands, you know you have an excellent reference frame. It is that blueprint which sprays traces of Helloïse's majestic melodic sound inflicting the straight forward and basic rocking sound of Highway Chile. "Headbangers" being re-recorded and ending with the mighty power chorus which opened Helloïse's epical "Cosmogony" album sums it all up, as does the newly recorded classic "Storybook Heroes"-song "Endless Trail". Verbaak's voice sounds amazing with hardly any sleight, and the band is propelled by the Page 1 of 4 Hardrock Haven: Highway Chile - Keeper of the Earth CD Review 2009 29- 1-2009 http://www.hardrockhaven.net/reviews2009/jan09/Highway%20Chile%20- %20Keep%20of%20the%20Earth.php
Transcript of INSIDE HRH CD/DVD Review Highway Chile
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CD/DVD Review
Highway Chile Keeper of the Earth Mausoleum Records
by Edwin van Hoof Staff Writer
Comments: One of the underground's most cherished albums must be Storybook Heroes from Dutch metal band Highway Chile. An album packed with classic, simple and pure rock with metallic edges and composed around inventive riffs and hooklines. Together with Robert Soeterboek (Ayreon, Star One, Vulture, etc), Atilla Szabo and Edwin Den Haag (both Blind Justice), founding members Ernst van Ee (dr.) and Martin Mens (g.) reunited in 2002 for a clubtour and live recording which was hailed by European fans. Highway Chile's reunion was fruitful, but who would have thought it would lead to a 'new' album?
On Keeper of the Earth the lineup has been shuffled once again; Soeterboek has been replaced by Stan Verbaak (Helloïse), where Szabo has been replaced by Gert Nijboer. Especially Verbaak's vocals add more fuel to the fire, taken in consideration that he and van Ee were the founders of Helloïse with whom they were raved as one of the best bands ever to have come from The Netherlands, you know you have an excellent reference frame. It is that blueprint which sprays traces of Helloïse's majestic melodic sound inflicting the straight forward and basic rocking sound of Highway Chile. "Headbangers" being re-recorded and ending with the mighty power chorus which opened Hello ïse's epical "Cosmogony" album sums it all up, as does the newly recorded classic "Storybook Heroes"-song "Endless Trail".
Verbaak's voice sounds amazing with hardly any sleight, and the band is propelled by the
Page 1 of 4Hardrock Haven: Highway Chile - Keeper of the Earth CD Review 2009
29-1-2009http://www.hardrockhaven.net/reviews2009/jan09/Highway%20Chile%20-%20Keep%20of%20the%20Earth.php
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screaming guitar tandem and van Ee's signature hard hitting drum sound. Double bass rolls hit you like a machine gun, guitar riffs loud as buzz saws, and solos fly over your head constantly. The new songs on the album do drop you back in the middle of the roaring eighties. "Keeper of the Earth" itself revives the sound of Judas Priest's "Sin after Sin" days with hooked, square guitar riffs and vocal lines plus a deep drum sound. In the vein of the eighties, the band stays loyal to their basic debut sound without coming off dated. The crystal clear and powerful production make sure you are drenched in nostalgia, without being old fashioned. It simply has too much of a punch for that. "Poison" and "Run Away" follow the same line with excellent old school soloing, "Free Fighters" and "Dreaming of Heaven" have a ton of hints towards Stryper's "Soldiers under Command", where "Heat Wave" is a social critical depiction of the LA riots, with an eclectic ending and mid section. "Road to Paradise" and "Stealing with Pride" are close to the Helloïse sound thanks to Verbaak's typical vocal work. Only question mark is the 4/4th propelled cover version of "Long Live Rock 'n Roll" from Rainbow which needs to sink in.
Keeper of the Earth isn't renewing or hailing for new sights and sounds, it is a basic and solid powerful metal album in the line of the band's remarkable debut CD. The addition of Stan Verbaak also throws in hints towards the Helloïse sound and clearly boosts the band's possibilities due to the man's wide range. It is an album which will be cherished by fans of old school powerful rock and metal, as well as fans in search of roots in this genre. It is worth your time and money … explore!
Track Listing: 1. Keeper of the Earth 2. Poison 3. Road to Paradise 4. Pretending 5. Free Fighters 6. Run Away 7. Heat Wave 8. Endless Trail 9. Headbangers 10. Stealing with Pride 11. Long Live Rock 'n Roll 12. Dreaming of Heaven
Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10
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