(Symphonic Hard Rock) Uli Jon Roth (ex- Scorpions) - Under a Dark Sky - 2008, APE (image+.cue), lossless

Very few have managed to mix rock and classical music successfully. Ever maestro Uli Jon Roth (ex-SCORPIONS) hasn’t always succeeded in his attempts. He did hit the nail on the head with his SKY OF AVALON album “Prologue To The Symphonic Legends” (1996), though. A fantastic record, that is still often in my cd player when I’m in for some bombastic, yet accessible music. His new album, “Under A Dark Sky”, seems to be the direct sequel to this, and again it’s a winner.
As on the SKY OF AVALON album, Roth has brought together a long list of contributors, both from the world of rock and from classical music. Ex-Yngwie Malmsteen and current ROYAL HUNT vocalist Mark Boals will probably be the best known for our readers. Excellent performance, by the way. Others include Liz Vandal (ex-SAHARA), drummer Michael Ehre (METALIUM) and longtime Roth contributor Michael Flexig, plus a string orchestra and a choir.
Roth himself also does some singing, but luckily not too much. His voice is an acquired taste, but if he doesn’t overdo it, it does give the music an appealing quality. As for his guitar playing: this is unique. Always has been. Still, Roth has the discipline to put his playing completely in the context of the music. Functional freaking out, I’d call it, and he can be pretty subtle as well. No endless, boring shredding, as some have done (and I won’t mention any names here, Mr. Malmsteen). My respect for Uli Jon Roth (which was quite considerable to begin with) has only grown with this album.
‘Excellent cd if you’re looking for something different. Required listening: ‘Land Of Dawn’, ‘Stay In the Light’ and (especially) the 12-part ‘Tanz In Die Dämmerung’.www.prog-nose.org