Music News Monthly Magazine May 2024 - Magazine - Page 25
ALBUM REVIEW
When I heard that heavy metal
legend Blaze Bayley had just
released a new album, I had to
check it out. I know that Blaze
has had a tough time recently,
and I did worry that this would
have had a negative impact on
the album. So I tentatively
clicked play on 'Circle of Stone'
and hoped for the best. I needn't
have worried, in fact, the
opening track, 'Mind Reader'
Blaze, even says, "They can
knock me down, but I won't stay
down." And boy, oh boy, did this
fella get back up? His voice is so
powerful right from the start.
Throughout the album, there is
an energy that is so infectious.
Blaze's ability to write a good
lyric is something that is evident
in songs like 'Tears in the Rain',
whereas his incredible vocal range
gets a good old stretch in 'Rage'.
Incidentally, 'Rage' has a real kickass guitar solo that scratches the
solo itch good and proper. The
album is crammed full of
stunning riffs, all backed up with
glorious basslines that keep the
rhythm going, and the drums are
as hard and heavy as you like.
Sometimes you hear a heavy
metal album and it sounds good,
but it just lacks that something
special that you find in performers
like Blaze.
There are so many highlights that
it would take too long to list them
all, but the intro to 'Ghost in the
Bottle' is definitely up there, as the
theatrical vocals in 'The Broken
Man', the guitar in that track has a
beautiful tone that matches the
feeling of the lyrics perfectly. The
album's namesake, 'Circle of
Stone', is full of heavy metal at its
best. The album features vocals
from Tammy-Rae Bois, finishing
with the highly emotive, 'Until We
Meet Again', Tammy-Rae's voice
works so well with Blaze's almost
theatrical
performance.
A
stunning end to an incredible
album.
I went into this album not sure
what to expect and finished
listening to it with a real sense of
joy in what I had heard and a
deep respect for the sheer
determination of Blaze. A true
talent with which I am so pleased
continues to wow with his
creativity and dedication to a
genre that is ever richer for having
Blaze Bayley as a part of it.