Conquest - World's Apart

Year of Release: 1999
Label: Escape Music
Catalog Number: ESM045
Format: CD
Total Time: 46:37:00

This came as a surprise to me as it features original Stratovarius drummer Tuomo Lassila. Now most of you (me included) might at first expect this to be up-tempo power metal or something in that direction but as I saw this was released on the melodic rock label Escape Records, I knew this was not the case.

Conquest play straight hard rock, or melodic metal, if you want, with influences from old legends like Deep Purple. Some songs even have a slight prog influence. It's very guitar-based although pretty vocal oriented as well with vocalist Peter James Goodman having an excellent powerful voice coming off as a blend of Jeff Scott Soto and Graham Bonnett. As mentioned, the songs are very guitar-based, yet with some great varied keys by Pate Kivinen and playful drums by Lassila. Actually, the band sounds like a modern melodic metal band with varying influences from prog and 70s hard rock and the songwriting and arrangements are also very good. The songs are catchy, melodic and accessible, yet with a heavy edge to it. The album is incredibly even and fresh sounding, and the production is excellent, with all instruments present.

All songs are original and varied and the album is highly recommended to all fans of classy hard rock and melodic metal. This is one you should not be without!

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
Changes / Different Worlds / No More Crying / Heal My Soul / Heat Of The Flame / Down For The Count / Sister Moon / Guardian Angel / Flash And Blood / As Far As The Eye Can See / Through The Time

Musicians:
Peter James Goodman - vocals
Tuomo Lassila - drums and percussion
Heikki Warma - guitars
Marco Hietala - bass and vocals
Pate Kivinen - keyboards


Discography:
World's Apart (1999)

Genre: Melodic Metal

Origin FI

Added: December 8th 2004
Reviewer: Bjørnar Bevolden
Score:
Artist website:
Hits: 2449
Language: english