Despite the cheesy title,
The Order have moved up a gear with their second album, '
Metal Casino'. The recording's self assured swagger and uncompromising melodic hard rock style, sound and content unequivocally place the band up there with Krokus,
Victory and Shakra.
It's a killer blend of pumping rock anthems and surprisingly sophisticated ballads, though the latter's clearly in the minority.
That said, the band leave no lyrical cliché unturned in the pursuit of popular acceptance and the dramatic, chest beating intensity is laid on with a trowel. But one thing is clear : these guys thoroughly enjoyed themselves making this album.
Vocalist Gianni (Pure Inc) Pontillo's powerful, throaty howl is a major weapon in
The Order's armoury. A targeted weapon that could take out a T90. It soars, it growls, it's combative when it needs be, but it can be subdued, turned down to a whisper when the moment demands.
One way or the other it grabs each song by the scruff of the neck and just doesn't let go until every drop of sentiment, every dramatic scene is wrung from the words and the music.
Surprisingly, the album has the feel of a "Best of...", such is the strength of the songwriting and the material delivered here.
Songs are conventionally structured, an approach that suits the music to a tee. It all sounds familiar, but yet it still sounds fresh, inspired, zinging with zest and crackling with energy. And just resonating with earthy, amped up riffs.
Supported by a locked and loaded rhythm section, axeman Bruno Spring's frills and fills, licks and riffs are muscular, melodic and loud, providing an unstoppable, but eminently tuneful momentum.
Among a high quality bunch of tracks, the standouts might just be the originally titled '
In The Heat Of The Lonely Night' (presumably tongues were firmly in cheek when that was written), and the marvellously apposite closer, '
Little Wings'...nothing to do with Hendrix, but it certainly rocks, big time.
Written by
Brian Friday, September 7, 2007
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