| The
Review |
Not since Robin Trower and Gary Moore has there been a
metal frontman/guitarist that has brought the blues approach
to the world of hard rock/AOR. Harnessed with producer/musician
Michael Voss (Silver), Gary John Barden (MSG/Silver) expounds
upon a soulful approach of hard driving AOR; where there is
this hierarchy for a raw approach, basically the stance that
Barden creates on 'The Agony and Xtasy' is one where he simply
just wants to rock out; and that he does. ***
With tracks such as "Hot Daze," "Let Me Down," and "Arise"
providing the hard rock mantra, cuts like the ballad "No More
Reasons" and mellow moody "Need of Some Love" provide the
nod to pop/rock prowess, where Barden expresses himself through
song and playing, complimented by guests Michael Schenker,
Steve Morris, and Tommy Denander, with plenty of guitar leads/solos
and occasional Hammonds to add to the overall vibe of the
record, leaving the synthesizers and overtly slick production
behind. ***
You can tell when listening to this disc that it is an
album from the heart, providing Barden did the bulk of the
songwriting; so in many ways, you might be able to almost
consider this a singer/songwriter relevant album, but all
kidding aside, it really does not sound that way. 'The Agony
and Xtasy' sounds in relation to Joe Lynn Turner, Glenn Hughes,
Gary Moore's heavier stuff, and Rainbow; nevertheless, the
playing and music on this record is often hard to come by
these days, especially when it comes to the playing and musical
approach being melded together like this.
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