Tad Morose: A Mended Rhyme (1997)

Several years ago, I checked out an album by Swedish power metal band Tad Morose called Modus Vivendi.  Simply put, I loved it.  I have always had a difficult time finding new, decent power metal bands.  Obviously there are the well-known leaders in the genre, groups like Blind Guardian, Sonata Arctica and others, but as a whole, the genre can be difficult to find other bands that are not too cheesy and overwrought.  So it was a welcome discovery to find Tad Morose.  Unfortunately, it took until just recently for me to find another album by the band.

Unfortunately, this album just is not doing it for me at this time.  I am hoping that this album is just taking some time to sink in.  There are definitely elements to this album that I love, but there are some things that I do not care for as well.  It is an earlier album in Tad Morose's discography and it is possible the band was still finding themselves.  It was their third album and it is apparently a transition album as it is the first one with Urban Breed on vocals and the riffs are generally heavier.  So maybe it is just an album where the ideas were there but the execution was not.

Let's start with the things that I love.  Breed's vocals are incredible.  He has a stunning, melodic voice that can hit some high notes and then can take a harder, gruffer edge as well.  The keyboard melodies are also quite impressive and the songs that rely on them for the primary melodic lines are generally the better songs on the album, such as opener "Circuit Vision" and the title track.  And finally, I really appreciate the song "Goddess of Chaos" which is directly about Alien, my favorite movie of all time.

And now for the primary thing I do not care for.  The heavier riffs are not terribly interesting most of the time.  Tad Morose does not break any new ground, which is fine, but most of the riffs here are rather pedestrian.  They cover that well with the use of keyboards and Breed's vocals, but there are times ("But Angels Shine") where there is nothing concealing the unoriginal riffing.

So there are good moments and bad moments, but the truth is that this is a bit of an uneven release.  It pales in comparison to Modus Vivendi.  It is possible that it will grow on me as I have liked it more and more with each successive listen. 

Underrated Power Metal Albums Pt. 1 of 2

Okay, it's the last week for this series. This week, I take on power metal. Power metal has never been a favorite genre of mine, although along with doom metal it is a little closer to the traditional metal style, rising out of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden influences. However, there's two types of power metal: European and American. American-style power metal is a little more aggressive and not as orchestral. As such, you will see more American power metal than European in this list.

TWISTED TOWER DIRE: CREST OF THE MARTYRS
Starting things off is the incredibly underrated Twisted Tower Dire. This is American power metal at its best. It's extremely catchy and yet retaining an aggressive edge. This is very close to traditional metal, but it still keeps a general power metal sound. Their vocalist sounds amazing, with a sharp distinctive vocal style. The guitar riffs are heavy and interesting and the solos are incendiary. This is an incredible band that has not received much of any exposure at all.

TAD MOROSE: MODUS VIVENDI
Yes there will be some European power metal bands on this list. Tad Morose is a progressive/power metal band from Sweden. As far as European power metal goes however, the Swedish bands are typically a little more on the aggressive side, while remaining extremely melodic. This album is an excellent example. The band sounds a little like the American band Kamelot. Tad Morose is an extremely gifted band at writing infectious choruses, a gift they use to full effect on this album. Yes it is melodic, and progressive, and it's extremely powerful.

NIGHTMARE: GENETIC DISORDER
Nightmare is a French power metal band that plays a style closer to the American power metal style than the flowery European style. Nightmare is a band that has been around for a very long time. I have almost never seen them mentioned in any metal publications at all though. It's a shame because this is some very catchy and melodic power metal. It's also surprisingly aggressive for the style. Nightmare has been around since before the European "flower" metal style and resembles Grave Digger much moreso than Blind Guardian.

OUTWORLD: OUTWORLD
Melding elements of power metal and progressive metal, we have the mighty Outworld. The singer's air-raid siren-like vocals soar over the rather complex riffing and keyboard flourishes. The vocals are really the most important factor in this band's musical style. The music is similar to Symphony X, but harder and heavier and the vocals are significantly better as well, not to say Symphony X is bad at all. This album will definitely wake you up in a hurry.

OMEN: BATTLE CRY
Omen is one of the original bands in the American power metal movement. They themselves ride the border between power metal and traditional metal, but they're here because of their influence on the fledgling genre in the early 1980's. Because of groups like Omen and Jag Panzer and Manowar, we have the American power metal style. Groups on this list like Twisted Tower Dire owe a debt to Omen and others. All that praise is meaningless of course if the album itself were not as good as it is. This is a truly underrated gem for its time.