Now, let me start off this review by saying that the only reason this is getting 4 picks is because it contains Michael Schenker's soloing. That being said, I have to state that this is probably the worst album (with the exception of Contraband - but that don't count!) Michael has ever played on. The main reason here is probably vocalist Kelly Keeling who manages to ruin this disc just like he ruined John Norum's Worlds Away.

Avid guitar fans will, of course, find something to enjoy, but don't let that fool you. Tracks like "Rude Awakening" and "The Mess I've Made" are forgettable funky almost modern (ugggh!!) mid-tempo tunes. "In and Out of Time" has a very cool nylon string lead break, but that's not enough to carry the song. Keeling's vocals are very funky sounding and vary from song to song, he sounds (in a bad way) like a mix of Lemmy, Doug Pinnick, Mike Tramp, Sammy Hagar and whatever Modern Rock loser you can think of. You can clearly see that his heart is not in it. He's said before that he'd rather be doing something like Radiohead (his words, not mine) and this is definitely reflected in his singing.

Seth Bernstein's keys are almost nonexistant unless they're featured in the mix, and John Onder's bass playing is ordinary. Shane Gaalaas on the other hand is one HELL of a drummer, I'm glad he's discovered the heavy drum sound. Schenker, oh the Mighty Schenker, yeah, there's some cool guitar work. Nothing new, nothing mind blowing, nothing he hasn't done before. Gone are the trademark guitar harmonies, with the exception of the last song "The Storm" (MetalGod's pick) which is one of the two highlights of this CD. The other highlight is the beautiful ballad "Forever and More," except that I wish it was an instrumental because Keeling does his best to try and ruin it.

I've got a message for Keeling: go full force into the kingdom of Wuss-dom and join Oasis or something, but please stop ruining these recordings. I love Michael Schenker, but I really have to start questioning why. After putting out the great (MSG) Written in the Sand, why this? And furthermore, after putting out the utterly brilliant (UFO) Walk On Water , WHY, Michael, WHY????? Schenker needs to work with a real singer. I've got two words for ya Mike: Phil Mogg.

-MetalGod

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