THE SEVENTH DAY
Z Records
Produced by: Von Groove
Released: OUT / Website
Closest Relative: Themselves
GENRE: AOR
OVERALL: 90%
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MelodicRock.com Reviews |
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THE SEVENTH DAY Z Records Produced by: Von Groove Released: OUT / Website Closest Relative: Themselves GENRE: AOR |
OVERALL: 90%
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Von Groove have been around quite sometime now, and over the course of their recording career have made some brilliant examples of melodic rock and maybe also a couple of albums that failed to hit the mark. Their last studio album of new material was Driving Off The Edge Of The World, which returned the band to their rockier ways after the softer AOR of Test Of Faith. I still believe that album is their best, as the songwriting was fabulous. But the majority want the guys to rock like their debut and like Chameleon, so they did. But Driving missed some of the hooks we had come to love. I am pleased to say that on The Seventh Day the band not only return to their songwriting best, they also rock out with big hooks like we hoped for. In a short 10 track album they also manage to throw in a couple of softer tracks for good measure, asking this album one of their best and most complete albums to date. | |||
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For long time fans, this will rank up there with their debut, Test of Faith and Chameleon. While at this stage of their career it is hard to reach a consensus as to what their best album is, but it is safe to say this should at least be highly regarded by all. The album opens in traditionally big hard rocking Von Groove style with Believe In The One. One will immediate notice the production quality has also jumped from Driving... The song is nothing from outside the VG catalogue, but it has a certain swagger and attitude, plus it rocks big time! Mike's vocals are also in tip top shape. Lily does what their last album didn't to - follow the strong opener with an even stronger follow up. This uptempo rocker has all the stadium elements that will make the song a classic for VG fans. A good hook and some strong guitar riffs. Oxygen continues the uptempo pace with another groove filled rocker. And another great hook and memorable chorus. Seventh Day changes the pace of the album a little. This track is more from the band's love of experimenting with the darker and more modern style of hard rock. What's different here from other tracks they have experimented with is there is still a good hook in the bridge and chorus of the song. The pace changes again with Lifeline softening things up a little. There's a little of the band's pop influences shining through and again there's another great hook filled chorus. Guns Over London reverts back to the heavier and more aggressive approach. A good pedal to the metal track. The Best In Me is the big ballad of the album. The good thing is that the track is an original ballad for the band, nit just something that could have been lifted from any other album, even though there is nothing unfamiliar about it. By placing Heaven Knows Your Name next, it keeps both the album's ballads together. This track is a more stripped back acoustic ballad with a slight country twang. Another good track though, maintaining the standard while diversifying the sound. It's time to rock again with Soul Surgery up next. Another big rocking groove track. The chorus isn't quite as strong, but the musical aspect of the song is. Angel City is already the last track. Time flies when you are having fun! It's another big aggressive groove rocker on offer here, and again, maybe it's not as strong as the opening rockers, but it still has enough attitude to get it across the line.
| PRODUCTION: 92% | SONGS: 87% | VIBE: 90% | ATTITUDE: 90% | ESSENTIAL FOR: Every Von Groove & Mladden/Mike Shotton fan out there! Most melodic hard rock fans. |
| DISCOGRAPHY:Von Groove . Rainmaker . Mission Man . Chameleon . Test Of Faith . Drivin' Off The Edge Of The World . 3 Faces Past . The Seventh Day | ||||