MelodicRock.com Reviews


GUILD OF AGES
CITADEL
MTM MUSIC
Produced by: Bobby Barth
Released: JAN / Website
Closest Relative: Axe
GENRE: Hard Rock
OVERALL: 89%

  1. Wicked Game
  2. Losing My Religion
  3. From Now On
  4. Until The End
  5. So This Could Be Love
  6. Reaching Out
  7. That's Why
  8. How Many Times
  9. Feeding The Fire
  10. How Can I Say

To get straight to the point, Guild Of Ages are back with their best effort yet.
After their slightly less inspiring effort last time around there was speculation over what they would do next and talk of a Danny Martinez solo record.
But thankfully clear heads prevailed and the guys returned to the studio determined to record their best album to date. That they have achieved.
I am not trying to skim on a review here, but stylistically there isn't a huge variation on what they have done previously, to warrant a track by track assessment of the album.
Safe to say, what the guys have done is taken their sound and their previous albums and improved every single part of their performance and their delivery.
The song writing is much stronger; there is not one filler on the whole album.
The production is first rate - sharper guitars, drums and vocals, plus better harmony vocals than on all previous efforts.
The vocals of Danny Martinez and the guitar playing of Anthony Trujillo are also first rate, again, better and beefier than previously.
There are a few new tricks the boys use. There is more depth to each song musically, be it extra instrumental parts or atmospheric use of keyboards and harmony vocals.
The songs are also a little fuller in their construction, more changes in tempo and style and a great balance between the rockers, ballads and a few mid tempo tracks for good measure.
One problem with the last album was that too many tracks plodded, but on Citadel, the rockers are heavier than ever and fill the majority of tracks on the album, with a couple of ballads and a couple of mid tempo tunes rounding out the album.
If you were never able to get into the band's sound, this might still not sway you, but for other fans of the band, this will definitely impress.
BOTTOM LINE: Simple. Better songs, better performances, better production and attitude equals the guys best album to date, either as CITA or as Guild Of Ages. A recommended purchase.
PRODUCTION: 90% SONGS: 88% VIBE: 90%ATTITUDE: 88%
ESSENTIAL FOR: Every Guild Of Ages and CITA fan and fans of great solid melodic hard rock. Some Axe fans.
DISCOGRAPHY:Act 1 . Relapse Of Reason . One . Vox Dominatas . Citadel



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