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WildeStarr - Arrival review



Reviewer:
8.0

7 users:
7.86
Band: WildeStarr
Album: Arrival
Release date: August 2009


01. Rose In The Dark
02. Arrival
03. Touching God
04. Rise
05. Down Of The Sun
06. In This World
07. Generation Next
08. Nevermore
09. Voice In The Silence
10. The Chain

Judas Priest, Helstar, Vicious Rumors and Wolf. Try to imagine whatever associations these names stir in you with a female vocalist. Unusual as it may sound at first, it's exactly what exceptional vocalist London Wilde and Dave Starr, wellknown for his bass-work in the aforementioned Vicious Rumors as well as Lääz Rockit, Destillery and Chastain, do.

Of course pure and uncontaminated US power metal is the name of the game and Mr. Starr knows how to play it. Riff after powerful riff is blown on to the listener while Wilde's shrieks soar overhead, overshadowing most male heavy metal singers in the process. For connoisseurs of the genre it soon becomes obvious that the duo has created a few really exceptional songs. There however also lies the rub. While some tracks are close to heavy metal masterpieces, a few others are completely forgettable altogether. To be blunt, the slightly balladesque moments of the album bore me and while there are many amazing riffs on it, a fair amount of filler-riffs have found their way on it as well.

All in all the album isn't a complete masterpiece, however it definitely holds its own against most of the new and young heavy metal bands, experience seems to pay off after all. Dave managed to live up to his legacy, while the extraordinary voice of London Wilde (although she might still want to work on her ballad singing-style) has been unleashed on to the greater metal audience.

Arrival is a rock-solid debut and it would be a crime for any US power metalhead not to pick up this disc.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 9
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 6
Production: 6

Written by Bas | 28.09.2009




Comments

Comments: 10   [ 2 ignored ]   Visited by: 47 users
02.10.2009 - 15:57
Rating: 8
Bas
Retired Staff
Just noticed that this is my 100. review =D
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BAS - Beautifully Accented Sexiness
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09.10.2009 - 21:03
Rating: 10
hard_tom

What a debut ! Ms. vocalist sounds like Ralf Scheepers and the guitars are heavy as hell. What want metalheads more? I love unoriginality like this. Ten points !
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18.10.2009 - 18:24
DayFly

I've been thinking about picking this one up. I heard Wilde's vocals make the whole thing sound somewhat gothic and flowery, something I don't like too much, I'm afraid. Do "soaring shrieks" mean I can give it a shot?
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18.10.2009 - 18:50
Rating: 8
Bas
Retired Staff
Written by DayFly on 18.10.2009 at 18:24

I heard Wilde's vocals make the whole thing sound somewhat gothic and flowery, something I don't like too much, I'm afraid.


Gothic and flowery? Not at all. Don't worry, you can pick it up
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BAS - Beautifully Accented Sexiness
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10.11.2009 - 17:43
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
I find it funny that everyone keeps mentioning Dave Starr's basswork in Laaz Rockit when in fact he hasn't recorded a thing with them.
Let me guess... that about Laaz Rockit was in the accompanying bio?
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Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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10.11.2009 - 18:21
Rating: 8
Bas
Retired Staff
Written by Irritable Ted on 10.11.2009 at 17:22

If Rob Halford wasn't... you know.... then if he married this vocalist the children would wail pure steel.

Lol, that made me laugh
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 10.11.2009 at 17:43

I find it funny that everyone keeps mentioning Dave Starr's basswork in Laaz Rockit when in fact he hasn't recorded a thing with them.
Let me guess... that about Laaz Rockit was in the accompanying bio?

Indeed, according to the bio he played on the Prelude To Death EP in 1983
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BAS - Beautifully Accented Sexiness
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10.11.2009 - 18:31
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Written by Bas on 10.11.2009 at 18:21

Indeed, according to the bio he played on the Prelude To Death EP in 1983


EP? Wow, that's hilarious calling a demo cassette an EP. What some artists try do to give themselves some sort of credibility. And well-known for his short stint with Laaz? mmmm, extremely debatable. Willy Langenhuizen/Lange will always be remembered as the defining bass player of Laaz Rockit.
But, damn I was wrong Dave Starr did record something with Laaz Rockit, but then again nothing of note.
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Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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10.11.2009 - 19:33
Derwood

Another review I seem to have overlooked. I had to check this band out after reading it, and the comments. I'm not normally a fan of female vocalists, but holy shit does this woman have some power. If "Rise" doesn't kick your ass, you must not have an ass to kick.

Written by Irritable Ted on 10.11.2009 at 17:22

If Rob Halford wasn't... you know.... then if he married this vocalist the children would wail pure steel.


Perhaps a sperm donation could be arranged. Oh, and I'm making that my signature.
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You can't fight evil with a macaroni duck!
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10.11.2009 - 21:16
Dave Starr

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 10.11.2009 at 18:31

Written by Bas on 10.11.2009 at 18:21

Indeed, according to the bio he played on the Prelude To Death EP in 1983


EP? Wow, that's hilarious calling a demo cassette an EP. What some artists try do to give themselves some sort of credibility. And well-known for his short stint with Laaz? mmmm, extremely debatable. Willy Langenhuizen/Lange will always be remembered as the defining bass player of Laaz Rockit.
But, damn I was wrong Dave Starr did record something with Laaz Rockit, but then again nothing of note.



As I recall, we sold 500 of those cassette tapes. Not bad for an unsigned band back in the day. I added that to my BIO, since it is where I got my start and people do still ask me about it. IMO, that EP/Tape sucks anyway and I am sure the other guys would say the same thing if you asked them. I certainly don't need the LR referance for credibility since I went on the far bigger and better things in my career.

Thanks to everyone here for the kind words!!

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13.11.2009 - 13:51
GT
Coffee!!
I'll be checking this album out. Sounds interesting
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Dreams are made so we don't get bored when we sleep
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