Member:
jlneudorf
(Profile)
(All Album Reviews by jlneudorf)
Date:
11/13/2011
Format:
CD (Album)
Tinkicker are a heavy metal/progressive rock band from Denmark. The band formed in 2006 and released their debut Soliloquy of the Transparent Boy in 2008. I really enjoyed that album but their latest entitled The Playground at the Edge of the Abyss is even better.
It should also be pointed out the band continues its exploration of the concept album, with the new one entirely based on non-fiction examining the lives and events of a group of people, capturing specific moments in time and tackling issues such as abuse and suicide. It is a weighty concept and well worth your time exploring although don’t expect this album to take you to a ‘happy’ place because there are no rose coloured glasses here. This is gritty real life.
The band consists of Klaus Herfort (drums, percussion), Søren Lindberg (guitars, bass), Klaus Bastian (lead and backing vocals) and Eric Wolf (bass). The musicianship is excellent across the board and the vocals of Bastian are equally as good. There is something about his voice I really like although I am finding it hard to pin down. Maybe it is because I find his vocals slightly similar to Oliver Philipps of Everon fame which should be taken as a huge compliment. This rings especially true on the Sabbath influenced title track with its heavy doom laden riffs and quieter interludes conveying different moods and atmospheres. The heaviness continues with “Li’l” Mary”, a very melodic heavy rock song with more Sabbath-like riffing and the hard driving “Man With The Evil Eye”, complete with fiery lead guitar and an overall sinister vibe. The band slows it down for the poignantly beautiful “Flowers In The Asphalt” with its sweeping acoustic guitar, emotive vocals and underlying guitar crunch.
Other highlights include the heavy drama of “Reflections From The Sun”, a real slow burning rock tune and the sweet acoustic flavours of “Success?”, featuring a melding of lighter and heavier sounds and Bastian’s soaring lead vocals.
Although this is the band’s heaviest record to date harkening back to the sounds of Black Sabbath and even early Rush (check out the lead vocals in “New Values”), Tinkicker’s music is far from one dimensional and is very melodic. If you like heavy music with varying moods and atmospheres with lots of proggy touches scattered throughout, The Playground At The Edge Of The Abyss will fit right at home in your CD collection.
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