(Melodic Heavy Metal) [CD] Level 10 (Russell Allen & Mat Sinner) - Chapter One - 2015, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The mastermind behind LEVEL 10 is well known, and he's a quite busy man : the charismatic Mat Sinner (PRIMAL FEAR/SINNER/GODDESS SHIVA) who, beside being the bass player and backing vocalist, is also the producer and co-writer; on guitars we found two excellent and also reputed guitar players, namely Alex Beyrodt from SILENT FORCE/PRIMAL FEAR/VOODOO CIRCLE fame, and the ex-HELLOWEEN alumni Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN/SERIOUS BLACK), who deliver the goods in the dual Downing/Tipton tradition (“Forevermore”) The keyboardist is the omnipresent Alessandro Del Vecchio (HARDLINE /exEDEN’S CURSE) and to complete the line up, another great musician and ex PRIMAL FEAR/ANNIHILATOR skin basher, the one and only, Randy Black (DUSKMACHINE/ex REBELLION) But wait a minute, who is the lead singer ???

Those who follow my reviews already knows that I can't miss him, ‘cause i’m a die-hard fan…Ladies and gentlemen all the way from New-Jersey USA the SYMPHONY X frontman : let me introduce you Mr Russell Allen (also Vocalist for the fantastic but underrated ADRENALINE MOB)

This all star project is exciting to say the least, beside the obvious super group thing, it’s a good sonic mixture composed by some of the best selected elements from Euro Metal (“Soul Of A Warrior”/”Scream And Shout”) and Classic Epic Dio (“Cry No More” or the sublime “Demonized”) stuff paired with some eternal Melodic Hard Rock overtones (“One Way Street”).

LEVEL 10 is well named, an incredibly dangerous orchestra , composed by an ultra-talented gang of musicians and most of all: One of the best singer, if not the best still in action, once again, Sir Russell Allen is stellar both in his easy shuffling vocal execution but also in the amazing spirit injected in the most natural manner. Obviously the SYMPHONY X frontman steals the show and overshadows easily everyone else by his strong temper, his genuine feeling and his undeniable focus that leads to an uplifted magic bliss of vocal delivery (“Blasphemy”/”All Hope Is Gone”).

As if that weren’t enough, “Chapter One” also received some amazing guest appearances from the whole Metal microcosmic universe: the guitar hero from the PRIMAL FEAR family, Magnus Karlsson (STARBREAKER/LAST TRIBE), the Axe of Sander Gommans (MAYAN/AFTER FOREVER), the backing vocals of Carsten “lizard” Schulz (ANGEL OF EDEN/exDOMAIN), and the only feminine voice here provided by AVANTASIA’s Amanda Somerville.

Even if some cuts are a little generic (“Last Man On Earth” & “No Turning Back”) the whole album is enjoyable and jubilant, superbly uplifted by the magnificent vocal performance of Sir Russell Allen who once again demonstrate his supremacy in the Kingdom of Metal vox, this guy can sing the Estonian phonebook without sounding boring at all! Those veterans are masters and possess their biz quite well, the recipe is respected in full conformity, on lights on green/everything is under control from the sublime prod to the amazing solo spots (“No Turning Back”/”The Soul Is Eternal”) and reinforced by a very solid rythmic foundation borrowed to the PRIMAL FEAR's Germanic arsenal (“Forevermore” & “No Turning Back”), plus some SABBATHian Heaviness (“Voice Of The Wilderness”) but another time the perfect vocalizing of Mr Allen is clearly the federating element that lead to a consensus among the Metalheads community… And it's only "Chapter One"!

Review written by Yngwieviking

Links:
http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Level_10/3540391368