Recent Reviews

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

December 2023

November 2023

[ More Music Reviews ]


Sweet Oblivion/Geoff Tate: Sweet Oblivion
Sweet Oblivion Featuring Geoff Tate 2019 Music Review

Sweet Oblivion/Geoff Tate: Sweet Oblivion

Melodic Heavy Metal
3.5/5.0

While you're checking out Geoff Tate and Operation: Mindcrime on their current Summer tour, be on the look out for his new project, Sweet Oblivion. It's essentially an Italian job put together by DGM wizard, producer, and guitarist Simone Mularoni, with Emanuele Casali on keyboards and Paolo Caridi on drums.

Geoff Tate - Click For Larger Image

Geoff Tate

Mularoni's intention with Sweet Oblivion was to give Tate a similar musical canvas to the Eighties Queensryche recordings. Honestly, whether past or present, while I've listened to Queensryche, I've never been a huge fan. I know that probably puts me in the heavy metal dog house. It also means I don't have a large contextual memory to compare past Eighties Queensryche with 2019 Sweet Oblivion. Nevertheless I will attempt some observations.

First, Geoff Tate is characteristically in fine form, singing strong with attention to song melody and harmony, with more than a little of his natural tremolo. That is when he's not nearly overwhelmed by the music, which seems often. That leads to the second observation. The tunes within the album are overwhelmingly riff raging and intensely heavy in the rhythm section. While you might find hints of rock groove within some songs, basically the heavy metal crush is on. Third, outside of Tate's vocal prowess, the standout musical element is likely Simone Mularoni's killer guitar solos. They are abundant and blazing.

Highlighting a few songs, you'll find that subtle rock groove within True Colors, Sweet Oblivion, A Recess From My Fate, and the galloping heavy metal rock of The Deceiver. Alternatively, songs such as My Last Story, Disconnect, and Seek The Light were simply heavy, plodding, and wrapped in riffage and so, not all that interesting. Whether Sweet Oblivion lives up to early Queensryche references will be in the ear of the listener. But, more plainly, if you can imagine Geoff Tate singing in riff bristling, guitar forward, heavy metal, you will probably enjoy Sweet Oblivion. Check them out and support the band.


Another Dangerdog Review
Majestica - Above The Sky Music Review

Majestica: Above The Sky

Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal
4.0/5.0

Swedish guitarist Tommy Johansson (Sabaton) has reincarnated his old band Reinxeed. Sort of. He arrives with a new band name for his new project. Wishing a ... [ Read More ]


CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The Bottom Line

Whether Sweet Oblivion lives up to early Queensryche references will be in the ear of the listener. But, more plainly, if you can imagine Geoff Tate singing in riff bristling, guitar forward, heavy metal, you will probably enjoy Sweet Oblivion. Check them out and support the band.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity Album Review

Once more we return to multi-national band Lords Of Black which features Ronnie Romero (v), Dani Criado (b), Jo Nunez (d), and founder, guitarist, and principal songwriter Tony Hernando. After a three year ... [ Read More ]