Nuclear Blast
2007
1. Evolution 4.0 (Intro)
2. Forevermore
3. Roots of Anger
4. 10.000 Ways
5. Holding on to My Pain
6. Swirled
7. Down With Me
8. Face in the Mirror
9. Solid Ground
10. The Source
11. Great Man Down
Thunderstone are still a relatively young band. Formed in 2000 this one marks only their 4th album. In that time though the band has changed their style notably from a more keyboard-centric, stratovarius sounding sort of power band to something more direct and heavy. I've always considered their albums good and the progress they've made in establishing their own sound to this point has been solid.
On this album though I have to say that I think the band has taken a turn for the worse in their style. The problem on this latest effort seems to be that they in fact don't have a style at all... at least not of their own. While their first album showed them clinging to a Stratovarius formula this one seems to just settle on generic power metal. Every song on this release more or less sounds like a variation of the last and they all sound like they could've been performed by some generic european power band... probably on Limb Music. I listened to this one a few times and waited for something to sink in but the songs just seem like wall to wall filler. The only song that remotely distinguishes itself to me is the single, 10000 ways, but even that is by no means remarkable. Also, the whole thing seems overproduced like someone was trying to make something out of nothing by upping the bombast.
The band themselves aren't bad and I think they have a damn fine singer at their front but Evolution 4.0 just seems like the exact opposite of the title... deevolution. This release is just an all around weak effort to be thrown into the ever growing pile of mediocre and samy power metal. I can't really think of a reason to recommend this to anyone, but maybe if you're into direct euro styled power metal you'll find something more in this than me. I wouldn't count on it though.
Highlights: 10000 Ways
Rating - 2.5/5
2. Forevermore
3. Roots of Anger
4. 10.000 Ways
5. Holding on to My Pain
6. Swirled
7. Down With Me
8. Face in the Mirror
9. Solid Ground
10. The Source
11. Great Man Down
Thunderstone are still a relatively young band. Formed in 2000 this one marks only their 4th album. In that time though the band has changed their style notably from a more keyboard-centric, stratovarius sounding sort of power band to something more direct and heavy. I've always considered their albums good and the progress they've made in establishing their own sound to this point has been solid.
On this album though I have to say that I think the band has taken a turn for the worse in their style. The problem on this latest effort seems to be that they in fact don't have a style at all... at least not of their own. While their first album showed them clinging to a Stratovarius formula this one seems to just settle on generic power metal. Every song on this release more or less sounds like a variation of the last and they all sound like they could've been performed by some generic european power band... probably on Limb Music. I listened to this one a few times and waited for something to sink in but the songs just seem like wall to wall filler. The only song that remotely distinguishes itself to me is the single, 10000 ways, but even that is by no means remarkable. Also, the whole thing seems overproduced like someone was trying to make something out of nothing by upping the bombast.
The band themselves aren't bad and I think they have a damn fine singer at their front but Evolution 4.0 just seems like the exact opposite of the title... deevolution. This release is just an all around weak effort to be thrown into the ever growing pile of mediocre and samy power metal. I can't really think of a reason to recommend this to anyone, but maybe if you're into direct euro styled power metal you'll find something more in this than me. I wouldn't count on it though.
Highlights: 10000 Ways
Rating - 2.5/5
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