Self-titled

Frontiers

Considering that former Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske has sworn off singing Metal any longer, I think it’s safe to say that we are all surprised and overly exuberant with his inclusion on the Kiske/Somerville project. This album is most assuredly a landmark achievement in that it is the first male/female duo to record an entire album of duets in the Metal genre. Yes there are the obvious trade offs in such bands as Lacuna Coil but nothing has been done to this extreme. Considering that the album was put together by Serafino Perugino (president of the Italian record label Frontiers Records) and the music written by musicians Mat Sinner and Magnus Karlsson of Primal Fear fame, the interest in the project was immediate. When you add Kiske to the mix and then his counterpart the lovely Amanda Somerville who I had the distinct pleasure of seeing live when she filled in for Epica vocalist Simone Simons a couple years back on their U.S. Tour, you get one momentous occasion to celebrate melodic Metal it all its divine glory.

Passionate and with utter resolve the Kiske/Somerville project is a remarkable accomplishment. The writing is decisive and truly heartfelt, well thought out and inspired. It is really good to hear Michael Kiske singing again with such emotion and Amanda’s beautiful tones ring true with every chord. While the Metal crowd will no doubt eat this up with an emphatic hunger it will also appeal largely to the AOR side of the fence with its lush melodies and transcendent magnetism. Song favorites include the first single and accompanying video “Silence”, which could possibly be the strongest song found here and the best representation of the overall work. Other noteworthy mentions are the alluring rock ballad “Second Chance” which closes the album, the highly symphonic “The End of the Road”, “A Thousand Suns” and the hauntingly driven “Rain”.

The thought of actually being able to see this album performed live is almost too much to take. Although no plans have been made yet it seems that the inevitable success that Kiske/Somerville will receive could very well make a live tour a reality. This is by far one of the strongest releases of 2010 and well worth the vested interest of any and every connoisseur of good music.

-Priest