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King's Call: Showdown

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

4.0/5.0

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Lions Pride Music
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 22.11.2017

After a four year absence, King's Call, the German based power trio with an international cast, makes a return with their third studio album, Showdown. Like their previous album, Lion's Den, the band has a guest lead vocalist. This time it's journeyman Michael Bormann (Bonfire, Bloodbound, Silent Force, et al). Also veteran keyboard player Tony Carey (Rainbow) adds his talent to the mix.

King's Call

Also not unlike previous recordings, the songs within Showdown are essentially guitar-centered melodic hard rock tunes in an AOR wrapper. Guitarist and founder Alex Garoufalidis brings a bevy of sharp and brisk riffs and an abundance of slick solos. While these are the prominent elements, you cannot miss the pronounced bass lines from Andreas Kramer that fill each song. Otherwise, the song arrangements revolve around an abundance of melody and harmony, especially from the guitar and vocal parts, and then steady rock groove from the rhythm section.

Moving on to the songs then, you'll find some variety. Straight up riff rockers, often with a metal edge, come with Looking In The Mirror, Showdown, Shout It Out, and briskly paced Cry On The Wind. With the bass and drum groove, and a catchy chorus, S.O.S. becomes a bristling arena rocker. Alternatively, on the AOR side of things, there's Who Am I, with sharp riffs balanced by a bouncy groove and lighter vocals. Then there's the slow grooving ballad of sorts, Principles Of Love, which feature some light latent piano and female background vocals.

All said, King's Call's Showdown is another solid album of AOR melodic hard rock, featuring Alex Garoufalidis' always impressive and fine guitar work. Recommended.

King's Call's Showdown is another solid album of AOR melodic hard rock, featuring Alex Garoufalidis' always impressive and fine guitar work. Recommended.

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Formed in 1999 by singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Erik Martensson, Sweden's Eclipse is well into their third decade of making music. In the recent past, their recordings and reputation have ... [ Read More ]