| CD REVIEW Boarders |
 |
|
Band: Boarders Although this Milano based Italian band has been active since 1989, they’ve had to wait until 2007 to get their breakthrough and see their debut album (the one you’re reading about now) issued thanks to a collaboration with the Swiss Weathertop Promotions and the equally Swiss Quam Libet Records label. The guys had started playing a melodic Thrash Metal in the Bay Area style, influenced by the likes of Testament, Exodus, Metallica, but even more by Megadeth! In fact, Boarders once had a steady reputation for being one of Italy’s most appreciated Megadeth cover bands, and over the years they’ve recorded quite a few versions of songs by the Mustaine fronted American act, something which came to an all-time high on their 2002 DIY release Tribute To Megadeth – Live at Metalagno [if you’re interested, that full-length was preceded by the band’s two early demos (1990’s Bad Mistake and 1993’s Soft Fail System) and 2 DIY full-lengths (1999’s Rust Of 99 and 2001’s All Clear Lies)]. By the time the guys had recorded their 2004 Promo 2004 (containing 3 songs which would later be used on the album, it’s this demo which attracted the attention of Weathertop Promotions), the band members (in casu: lead singer/ rhythm guitarist Egidio “Egi” Casati, lead guitarist Gigi Civardi, bassist Oskar Sasso, and drummer Roberto “Roby” Agnelli) had reverted to the Christian Faith…so perhaps (in case you feel offended, please forgive me…but it doés sound funny) it was the guys’ prayers to the Powers Above that helped ‘em to their contact with Weathertop!? One thing’s for sure: the fact that the guys àre Christians have certainly been a factor in Retroactive Records owner Matt Hunt taking the decision to sign the band to his roster for a further distribution of their album! Right, this is about as good a time as any to let it be known that, although you’ll still find a Megadeth vocal signature in the tracks “In My Darkest Hour” (evidently, because it IS a Megadeth song off the So Far, So Good, So What album) and “Deliver You Back To Hell”, and other Thrash Metal influences in “For What It’s Worth” (Egi displaying his vocal diversity with a somewhat more growled style), Boarders have also grown to incorporate more melodic elements in their music. For instance, the 3 first tracks on the album (opener “True Rebellion”, “Baptized In Fire”, and “Schmetzgarten” all are of a more straigh-forward Hard Rock and Metal geared style with slight Progressive fringes, remeniscing the likes of AC/DC, Accept (see also the track “Jump For Joy”) and Iron Maiden (depending on the track). The ensuing duet ballad “Never Alone” is definitively thé mistake on the album, as guest singer’s Mariangela Scafati’s singing is regretfully tarnished with an aweful native accent which destroys the song altogether (well, perhaps people with Italian or Southern European ancestry may feel different…and by all means feel free to do so!). Nah, then the album’s other ballads, the album closing “Till Live Do Us One” (with collaboration on piano from Stefano Parodi, whom might just be the owner of the studio they recorded the album at) and “The World Hates Me” (in essence a Thrash Metal ballad, and with additional orchestral keyboards again courtesy of Parodi) come over much more convincing! In the more melodic songs, the singer uses a more high pitched style of voice…in fact he occasionally goes soaring high. A perfect blend of that Mustaine voice with his higher pitch (and soar) is used to even further vocal diversity in the track “W.F.D.”…which sees us having gone through the complete album now! All songs currently posted at myspace.com/music4thelion are off this album, and regretably that does not include any of the ballads. To get a whiff of that (through short samples), you might tune into amazon.com (most certainly one of the on-line outlets through which the album is sold). Personal end note? Nice album, and I like the diversity…but the use of Miss Scafati was definitely a mistake…hence the lower rating! 84/100 Tony. |