Band : Rob Rock         
Album title : The Voice Of Melodic Metal - Live In Atlanta
Label : AFM Records (Europe; Regain/Koch – USA)
Distributor : Rock Inc. - Bertus
Release Date : 22/05/2009
Release : CD/DVD

I suppose I do not have to introduce Rob Rock to you guys and girls. After all, he's been in the scene since the eighties, and has been member of Impelliteri, as well as appearing as vocalist in different projects (Joshua, Avantasia).

In 2000 he left Impelliteri amicably and decided to pursue his own solo career. Up to now he released 3 solo-albums. All songs on this album (CD) were taken from his solo albums. The DVD has some bonus material, e.g; recordings of the festival CRN in Germany in 2000 and lots more interesting stuff.   The Atlanta show was recorded during last year's Prog Power Festival.

Since we all know he has a great voice, no more introduction is needed.  He not only is a strong singer, but also a charismatic one. Judging by the record, you might think the band was having a ball that day. Production was done by Ken Young and Rob Rock himself, mixing was done by his guitarist CJ Grimmark. So not bad for a live album, live albums never having been my favourite ones. I prefer to go to a live concert myself, after all, even in the days when Judas Priest released Unleashed In The East my guts told me too much post-production had been added to make it sound good, and since then I have always had double feelings about live albums, maybe wrongly so.

So for people whose first experience this is with the solo-work of Rob Rock, you might consider listening to his studio-albums, and who knows, maybe buy them.

85/100

Erik Morren.