Various - Hearts Of Metal: the Best Metal Ballads Volume 1


Year of Release: 2002
Label: SPV
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 152:19:00

I know I'm in trouble when a new double CD compilation album arrives on my doorstep baring (pun intended) a beautiful naked woman lying in front of a wide-eyed dragon. Ah, the best of both worlds. Maybe they should have renamed this metal ballads compilation Breasts and Beasts?

I have a problem with an album that features a naked woman on the front cover aimed at men, but an album that features songs aimed at women. Score 1 for the SPV Marketing Department and 0 for the morals. Still, this is meant to be fun, so fun it shall be. Similar to Homer from The Simpsons (as distinct from Homer's Illiad [Very much so ;-) -PW ed.]) buying a bowling ball for Marge for her birthday present, a man would purchase this album by seeing BREASTS AND BEASTS on the front thinking that "yeah, my girlfriend loves these sissy ballads." Another goal to SPV. Score 0 for the male metal fan.

The value of this compilation is great. 2 CDs of totally wussy, slow power ballads that we all love. Yes, even my good self. Go on, admit it, you love the songs, too. Power ballads are very cathartic. You love Edguy ("Wash Away The Poison") and you're a man. You love the band name Pink Cream 69 ("In My Dreams"). You love Metalium ("Prophecy") because, boy, that man can reach high. Let's not forget the classical Rhapsody ("Wings of Destiny"), who sound like a Hollywood Soundtrack (yes, I am taking the piss out of promo people worldwide). It's not all crotch-grabbing high vocal stuff either. Iced Earth sing "Ghost Of Freedom," Nevermore proffer "Insignificant," and Grave Digger give us "Silence" (a misnomer I'm afraid). Even classic hair-band Danger Danger give all men solace with "She's Gone."

But it's not all men. Doro makes an appearance with a terrific song called "Danke," whilst Sabine and Edenbridge sing "Moment Of Time." And well, that's it. Unless you count the many tight-leathered pant wearers who appear on this album as women. Women such as Timo Kotipelto (Stratovarius) with "Neon Light Child," Bernhard Weiss (Axxis) with "Heaven In Black," or Edu Falaschi (Angra) with "Rebirth." No? I didn't think so either.

In conclusion, there are many things I enjoy about this album, but there is one more thing that concerns me. And that would be two words written on the bottom right-hand corner of the cover - "Volume 1."

[This review originally appeared December 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
Includes*: Wash Away The Poison (Edguy), In My Dreams (Pink Cream 69), Prophecy (Metalium), Wings Of Destiny (Rhapsody), Ghost Of Freedom (Iced Earth), Insignificant (Nevermore), Silence (Grave Digger), She's Gone (Danger Danger), Danke (Doro), Moment Of Time (Edenbridge), Neon Light Child (Stratovarius), Heaven In Black (Axxis), Rebirth (Angra)

* as Gary didn't include the tracklisting (they weren't part of PPO anyway), and I couldn't find nary another review of this title, the above is just a summary of those Gary mentions -ed.

Musicians:


Discography:


Genre: Various Genres

Origin VA

Added: March 29th 2005
Reviewer: Gary Carson
Score:
Artist website:
Hits: 2223
Language: english

  

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