Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2024 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
April 2024
- Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
- Praying Mantis: Defiance
- King Zebra: Between The Shadows
- About Us: Take A Piece
- Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories
March 2024
- Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
- Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
- The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
- Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
- Lipz: Changing The Melody
- The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
- Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
- Turbulence: Binary Dream
- Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond
- D'Luna: Monster
- Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
- Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help
February 2024
- Traveler: Prequel To Madness
- Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
- Honeymoon Suite: Alive
- Durbin: Screaming Steel
- Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
- Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
- Striker: Ultrapower
- Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
- Robert Hart: Circus Life
January 2024
- Corvus: Immortals
- Caligula's Horse: Charcoal Grace
- Grand: Second To None
- Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
- The Rods: Rattle The Cage
- Gotus: Gotus
- Metalite: Expedition One
- Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
- Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
- The Grandmaster: Black Sun
Gaskin: Edge of Madness
Gaskin: Edge of Madness
Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
4.0/5.0
Website (Label)
High Roller Records
by Craig Hartranft, 08.17.2012
Guitarist Paul Gaskin, and his eponymous band, date back better than 30 years, to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Two records came early, End of the World in 1981 and No Way Out a year later. They didn't surface again until 2000's Stand or Fall. The success of this didn't last long as Gaskin found himself in psych ward of hospital thanks to paranoia driven by drugs and alcohol. Nevertheless, he recovered, regrouped the band, and went on to record Edge of Madness, which reflects somewhat on those difficult times.
Gaskin: back in black.
It's probably not fair to call Gaskin's style strict NWOBHM, although the influences remain. Edge of Madness is more akin to melodic hard rock with some heavier moments. There's certainly nothing modern about their sound.
Songs that merge the metal side with melodic rock include Damnation, Heart Like Thunder, Edge Of Madness and, to some extent, Bedlam. Then the trio of songs Man's World, Wake Up Dead, Lost & Lonely lean more towards melodic hard rock. But even this is to simple as Lost & Lonely's guitar solo would fit any good melodic metal song. The guitar work is one of the great strengths of most every song here. Conversely, Gaskin's vocals can sometimes seem dull, even droll. Yet, on a song like The Contract, there's an unusual difference, a near effortless versatility.
Paul Gaskin has stated, "I just write what I like to hear, and hope others like it too." If you like melodic hard rock with a sometimes metal edge, then you'll like Edge of Madness, too. Recommended.
Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.
TweetIn Short
Gaskin's Edge of Madness is classic Eighties melodic hard rock with a dash of melodic metal edge.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]