Silver - Intruder

Year of Release: 2003
Label: Point Music
Catalog Number: 10241
Format: CD
Total Time: 45:47:00

When I received the promo copy of Intruder in my mailbox, I was very curious to what this was. But I can tell you, when I played it, the first track already blew me away! I checked the press sheet from the record company and found who Silver is: A who is who in rock. The main people behind Silver are vocalist Gary Bardens (ex-MSG, Praying Mantis), guitarist Bernie Torme (Ozzy Osbourne, Desperado), keyboard player Don Airey (Deep Purple, ex-Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake) and mastermind Michael Voss (guitars, Demon Drive, ex-Bonfire). They have invited some others to play: Bertram Engel (drums, Bruce Springsteen), Bob Daisley (bass, Ozzy Osbourne, Rainbow, Gary Moore), Colin Hodgkinson (bass, Whitesnake), Michael Minnemann (drums, Paul Gilbert) and Tommy Denander (guitars, Radioactive, AOR). With a line up like this, you can't go wrong, and fortunately this is the case with Silver!

It turns out that Intruder is already the third album of this super band and it is full of musical fireworks. Up-tempo rock songs, instrumental songs, ballads, the works; it's all here, sometimes with a modern sound, sometimes with a vintage 80s sound. Especially the song "Kismet" is like listening to Van Halen (Sammy Hagar-era), it just sparkles with enthusiasm. Opening and title track "Intruder" excels in sheer power, with haunting guitars and solid drums. My favourite song on the album is "Dance With The Devil," this one starts with a weird drum roll and has some spacey keyboards and tight guitar in it. Vocalist Gary Bardens shows some great quality in the songs, but I truly love his voice in the ballad "How Does It Feel," a song with a lot of emotion in it. Another song with an 80s sound is "I Don't Love You Anymore," with great bass, a fantastic guitar solo and just a plain great song. More up-tempo rock is brought with "Troublemaker," a bit in the vein of Mister Kite, with delicious guitar riffs.

I have already said enough about this album. You shouldn't talk about it, but just listen to it! I love Gary Bardens voice on this album, in every song! Furthermore I'm happy to hear Don Airey's got lots of room for his keyboards (this has been different in other projects he was involved in, like Empire), listen for example to "Bleed," where Airey rules with the Hammond. Drums are great, although in "How Does It Feel," I get the feeling a drum computer has been used. And the guitars taste like more! So what more do you want? Well, the first two albums! Because Intruder is a killer album, so don't forget to check out their previous albums, Silver and Dream Machines. Nuf said, get this album...

Similar Bands: Van Halen, Whitesnake, Mister Kite

[This review originally appeared November 2003 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]

Tracklisting:
Intruder (4:07) / Troublemaker (3:22) / Bleed (3:50) / Drowning (3:43) / Dance With The Devil (4:06) / How Does It Feel (5:46) / Kismet (3:40) / Come On (3:04) / I Don't Love You Anymore (4:46) / Shine On You (4:05) / When The Lights Go Down (5:12)

Musicians:
Don Airey - keyboards
Gary Barden - lead & backing vocals
Bob Daisley - bass
Tommy Denander - guitars
Bertram Engel - drums
Colin Hodgkinson - bass
Marco Minnemann - drums
Bernie Tormé - guitars
Michael Voss - guitars

Discography:
Dream Machines (2002)
Intruder (2003)
Addiction (2004)
Gold (2005)

Genre: Melodic Rock/AOR

Origin VA

Added: May 29th 2005
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website:
Hits: 1736
Language: english