This is NOT a traditional metal album to me. It is instead a strong classic / hard rock album. It’s a killer, contagious selection of music that really makes you reflect on the huge loss to the world that the deaths of Cozy Powell and John Entwistle created. More power to Glenn Tipton for getting this released. It did not deserve to be hidden away.
I have to say that on this album GT maintains a constant in his vocal presentation. It’s a constant higher range than your average metal / grunge growlers and at times brings to mind Lenny Wolfe, Geddy Lee, Ian Anderson, Johnny Dee, Greg Lake, Billy Squier and maybe even a hint of Rob Plant.
Musically, its keyboard intros remind me in places of Brit band Magnum, House Of Lords in a lot of places, Priest in others. It’s just, well, a great rock album!
Track By Track
"Unknown Soldier" (Listen/Download) is a brief intro piece, with eerie keys and haunting vocal.
Next we launch into powerhouse "Friendly Fire" (Listen/Download) with some awesome vocal work by GT. Superb!
"The Holy Man" (Listen/Download) has a House of Lords type vibe about it. It's a killer track that just grabs you instantly.
"Never Say Die" (Listen/Download) is next and no, it’s not a cover of the song by Black Sabbath. It has an intro that brings to mind, The Who’s "Won’t Get Fooled Again" (Listen/Download) -- interesting, with The Ox playing on the disc, huh?! Anyway, it’s not that song either but instead another powerful, catchy melody that will have you singing along in no time.
The next song, "Resolution" (Listen/Download) would to me have made a better title track than "Edge Of The World." Just something about it makes you think. Powerful!
"Edge Of The World" is still a good track, but not as "stand out" as any of the first three.
"Searching" (Listen/Download) starts with a sound not too far away from Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" (Listen/Download) but it’s a total emotional ballad. You’re expecting it to kick in at any time during the song, but it doesn’t. It’s just the one soft touch here. Good one!
Next up: "Give Blood" (Listen/Download) which has something about the intro that makes me think Bon Jovi. I know, I know, this is Glenn Tipton! Well, you listen and then tell me "Bad Medicine" (Listen/Download) doesn’t come to mind. It’s very catchy, but even with all these hooks in the songs, the album maintains a total hard rocking structure.
"Crime of Passion" (Listen/Download) -- I hate to say it but you know what I said about the track "Searching" and the comparison on the intro to Metallica. Doesn’t that acoustic intro sound familiar?! That said, the track develops into something that wouldn’t be out of place on an Alan Parsons album.
"Walls Cave In" gets back on the rock track, chuging along throughout with a killer lead break and yet another catchy chorus.
The title track follows, with huge vocal chant choruses typical of many '80s British rock albums. Still, there are some nice harmony guitar solo parts. It then makes me think of a Priest track, but I don’t feel it really takes you anywhere.
Album closer, "Stronger Than The Drug" has huge power chords, but then some of the melody and structure almost sounds like Whitesnake or Zeppelin here & there. Vocally, Tipton even hints at Plant to a degree. I think another song might have been a better album closer. Although it’s good, it’s not going to stick in your memory like any of the first half of this album's tracks.
R.I.P. Cozy & Ox. You’ll not be forgotten. This album for sure stands up well today for something recorded a decade back.
I recommend this -- 8.5 – 9 out of 10.
