Vengeance - Same/Same...But Different


Year of Release: 2007
Label: Metal Heaven
Catalog Number: Metal Heaven 00044
Format: CD
Total Time: 45:37:00

I discovered Vengeance some 14 years ago when I picked up a copy of their farewell album The Last Teardrop. Although I did like the album, I never looked for more until I discovered Ayreon and even worked together with Arjen Lucassen. Since then I have collected most of the Vengeance albums. Although Vengeance ended in '92, they attempted to get back together a few years later, with the release of Back From Flight 19, but that was short lived.

Then, in 2005, the band was revived for a third time. Singer Leon Goewie, bass player Barend Courbois and guitarist Jan Somers, all from the Back From Flight 19 line up, teamed up with Peter Bourbon (guitars) and Hans in 't Zandt (drums). In 2006 Vengeance released a brand new studio album, Back In The Ring, this time with minimal cooperation from Arjen Lucassen. The band toured extensively and this resulted in their first full live album: Same/Same ...But Different.

Vengeance has the reputation of being a real party band and when they play, they rock the house down. Well, this document definitely supports that. You can hear the band is really having a great time. The set list is a trip down memory lane, with all the well-known Vengeance classics passing by: "Take It Or Leave It," "May Heaven Strike Me Down," "Dreamworld," "Rock 'n' Roll Shower" and many more. The one song that surprised me was "Arabia," as I always rememberd Goewie didn't like to play that song live.

They play only two songs from their last studio album; the title track, "Back In The Ring" and "No Mercy." And they added "Bad Boy For Love," a non album track.

Given the fact that we are dealing here with excellent and very experienced musicians, I must admit I am a bit disappointed with the quality of both the recording and the play of the gents. I think they can do much better, especially when compared to older live recordings. Great songs, great atmosphere, not so great sound quality and that kinda ruins it for me.

All I can hope is that the gents from Vengeance will last longer than before and there will be more albums, maybe a live DVD, as they deserve it, for they are one of Holland's oldest hard rock bands still kicking it...


Tracklisting:
Take It Or Leave It / Back In The Ring / No Mercy / May Heaven Strike Me Down / Dream World / Take Me To The Limit / Bad Boy For Love / She Is The Woman / Rock 'n' Roll Shower

Musicians:
Leon Goewie - vocals
Barend Courbois - bass
Jan Somers - guitars
Peter Bourbon - guitars
Hans in 't Zandt - drums

Discography:
Vengeance (1984)
We Have Ways To Make You Rock (1986)
Take It Or Leave It (1987)
Arabia (1989)
The Last Teardrop 84-92 (1992)
The Last Of The Fallen Heroes (Japan only, 1994)
Back From Flight 19 (1997)
Wings Of An Arrow (2000)
Back In The Ring (2006)
Same/ Same?But Different (2007)

Genre: Rock

Origin NL

Added: December 9th 2007
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: www.vengeanceonline.nl
Hits: 2199
Language: english

  

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