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X-WORLD/5
www.x-world5.com
Before I even listen to 'New Universal Order', an album from the equivocally named X-World/5, I am already intrigued by the lineup of this new musical venture - ex-Hammerfall bassist Magnus Rosen; Pagan's Mind frontman Nils K.Rue; King Diamond guitarist Andy LaRocque; ex-Graham Bonnet drummer Big Swede; and ex-David Bowie guitarist Reeves Gabrels. I am, however, less intrigued by the inexcusably cheesy and tenuous concept behind the band - apparently the year is 3006 and five men have been chosen to "keep heavy metal alive". Okay. Perhaps this will appeal to the cognitively challenged metal fan, and pertains to a somewhat Spinal Tap aesthetic, which is unfortunate as it will surely put many off from what is a musically solid release. From the high calibre of musicians involved, the individual performances on the album live up to what one would expect, although collectively X-World/5 deliver a series of compositionally bastardised songs that draw from all their musical backgrounds...and more beyond. Here we have power metal; prog-rock; prog-power; classic rock; and even, dare I say, industrial power metal (check out 'A Cryptic Message' for a good example of the latter). While 'New Universal Order' will not be to everyone's tastes, and is not entirely flawless, it succeeds in combining both retro and contemporary elements with sonically pleasing results. My advice? Forget the concept; the cheesy cover; and perhaps even the fact that all five musicians involved are dressed as astronauts in the CD booklet, for the music on this debut release from X-World/5 is most certainly worthy of your attention.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
AFM Records
Album
NEW UNIVERSAL ORDER
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Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
41:42
RELEASE DATE:
30th May 2008
TRACK LISTING
1) CyberChrist
2) Man Machine
3) Charge To War
4) Alien March
5) A Cryptic Message
6) Crooked Cross
7) Lunar Voyage
8) Argonaut
9) New Eden
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Swe/USA/Nor
"X-World/5 deliver a series of compositionally bastardised songs that draw from all their musical backgrounds...and more beyond."