Poland, Chris - Return To Metropolis Live

Year of Release: 2007
Label: Lion Music
Catalog Number: LMC206
Format: CD
Total Time: 37:33:00

Chris Poland is best known for his eighties stint with Megadeth. Before that killing spree that claimed two albums in two years, he was a part of the New Yorkers, which paradoxically were popular in L.A. In those early days his focus was on Jazz Fusion and not so much on Heavy Metal. In the modern era, he has returned to his roots. Fortunate for some and not for others, that's not entirely what he's doing in this restaging of his nineties album. Rather, he's nailing chords with the precision and force of a sledgehammer.

While the title implies that he's remade his solo debut act-for-act, half the songs are pulled from various other works. The most notorious, "Wake Up Dead," is lifted from Megadeth's Peace Sells?But Who's Buying? In Dave Mustaine's absence, the bassist sings the cover.

Wedged between weightier pieces, "Khazad D?m" calls upon The Police. The familiarity makes this dreadful locus less dour by driving the Balrog back to its hole.

Journeying further into the unknown, "Psycho Boy" is new to the scene as online searches will yield no results. The remaining three instrumentals are almost as rare. To offer up a clue, they can be found in the discography from Poland's latest band Ohm. However, he treats fans to tracks exclusive to reissues and B-sides. So even if you love the studio and have disdain for what is live, this is a hand-picked collection that would be hard to stitch together on your own. Likewise, this hot night in Phoenix is unlikely to ever be redone. Since the time of this recording, the club has permanently shut its doors. For curious inquisitors, the deceased venue has been identified as The Mason Jar.

As to his crew, they consist of members from Damn The Machine, which is a band that people may have seen touring with Dream Theater. This includes Mark Poland, who provides the stalking drums. Wherever the music goes, his brother's strident beats are there. In the shadows that they cast, David Randi's bass is also heard lurking in the gloom.

Together, their slashing licks are terrifying. While they're just a trio, their sound is ominous and full. Chris Poland's axe-mania is the obvious standout here, but their scare tactics are best when they're battering out notes in tandem. For this reason, "Theater Of The Damned" operates as subsidiary to Nightmare Cinema. In regards to motion pictures, a video named "Alexandia" is integrated with the feature presentation. It's organic and grainy; returning listeners to ill-omened caves comparable to those of "Khazad D?m."

Anyhow, these frighteners take reprieve from the havoc that they reek only when they're drafting the addendum. "Pandora" is the first of these unanticipated chapters. The surprise that comes when the lid is slid aside is that it's the jazziest of the bunch; and believe it or not, it hobnobs with Bosom Buddies' happy-go-lucky title sequence. After that, "Tin Man" marches to a similar tune. In consequence to stutter steps on fretboards, they sidetrack patrons down a path that takes them to Oz's "If I Only Had a Brain." Despite heartening tones, the song is better suited for a Scarecrow. In the end, it seems as if Chris Poland is going easy on the blows to prove to fans that he favors dexterity over torture. Like Damian Maia's jujitsu, he beats opponents into submission without concussions, welts, or bruises.

In split decisions such as this, nobody wins; it's just an opinion. These miscellaneous pieces - ranging from brute force to the sweet science - will sell to those with cauliflower ears who appreciate the safety of rules and headgear. In other words, if you like it to bang but take it easy now and then, Chris Poland's got your number(s).

Tracklisting:
Return To Metalopolis (3:34) / Wake Up Dead (3:34) / Khazad D?m (5:32) / Psycho Boy (5:23) / Nightmare Hall (3:37) / Theatre Of The Damned (6:59) / Pandora (4:27) / Tin Man (4:27) / Alexandria (Live enhanced video)

Musicians:
Chris Poland - guitar
Mark Poland - drums
David Randi - bass; vocals (2)
David Eagle - drums (8, video)
Robby Pagliari - bass (8, video)

Discography:
Megadeth - Killing Is My Business ... And Business Is Good! (1985)
Megadeth - Peace Sells ... But Who's Buying? (1986)
Return To Metropolis (1990)
Chasing The Sun (2000)
Megadeth - Capital Punishment (2000)
Rare Trax (2000)
Ohm - Ohm (2003) Megadeth - Rust In Peace (remaster) (2004)
Megadeth - The System Has Failed (2004)
Ohm - "Live" On KPFK 90.7 FM (2004)
Megadeth - Back To The start (2005)
Ohm - Amino Acid Flashback (2005)
Megadeth - Warchest (2007)
Return To Metropolis - Live (2007)
Megadeth - Anthology: Set The World Afire (2008)
Ohm - Circus Of Sound (2008)

Ohm - Live At The New Brookland Tavern (DVD) (2006)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin US

Added: April 19th 2009
Reviewer: Joshua "Prawg Dawg" Turner
Score:
Artist website: www.chrispoland.com
Hits: 5046
Language: english