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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Bob Catley - Spirit Of Man (Jap. Ed.) + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Jan-12-2013 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Hard Rock Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2006 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........13 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.bobcatley.com ║ │
│║ ║ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Bob Catley Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Spirit Of Man (Jap. Ed.) Label : Avalon ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ There was some uncertainty about the next solo ║ │
│║ album for Magnum frontman Bob Catley, after it ║ │
│║ was confirmed the architect behind his last solo ║ │
│║ album û Paul Hodson - would not be participating ║ │
│║ in this record. ║ │
│║ Given the fact that was Bob's first album after ║ │
│║ a long partnership with Gary Hughes, there was ║ │
│║ some concern over who would fill in the void ║ │
│║ from two very gifted musicians and songwriters. ║ │
│║ On one count Bob has laid all concerns to rest, ║ │
│║ but on the other count the jury is still out. ║ │
│║ Into the Catley fold comes British songwriters ║ │
│║ Dave Thompson and Paul Uttley û both already ║ │
│║ known for their work in their band Lost Weekend. ║ │
│║ The duo has written the bulk of the material for ║ │
│║ this release and should be very proud of their ║ │
│║ efforts. I heard the whispers of some ║ │
│║ questioning what the pair could deliver, but on ║ │
│║ a songwriting front they could not have done ║ │
│║ much better. ║ │
│║ They have captured the essence of Bob Catley the ║ │
│║ artist and delivered a set of songs that blends ║ │
│║ his heavier solo sound with some more ║ │
│║ traditional Magnum elements. ║ │
│║ Bob's guitarist Vince O`Regan also steps up his ║ │
│║ role in the band by supplying three songs for ║ │
│║ the album. ║ │
│║ I think Bob has recorded some good albums. I ║ │
│║ also think he has recorded some great albums. I ║ │
│║ think the same for Magnum. Combined they have ║ │
│║ provided some of my favourite British hard rock ║ │
│║ songs of all time. But both are capable of ║ │
│║ turning in the odd disappointment. ║ │
│║ Bob Catley's last album When Empires Fall was ║ │
│║ genius. Perhaps the man behind the songs and ║ │
│║ sound (Paul Hodson) deserves the credit there, ║ │
│║ but Bob certainly sang his ass off. ║ │
│║ The sound of the last album was also the best of ║ │
│║ all Catley records to date and even better than ║ │
│║ the last few Magnum releases. ║ │
│║ So with that in mind, what has Bob and Co. got ║ │
│║ in store for fans this time around? ║ │
│║ Spirit Of Man is an interesting release. There ║ │
│║ are some very strong elements that long time ║ │
│║ fans will be pleased to hear. But it has a ║ │
│║ couple of weaknesses also. ║ │
│║ At the end of the day I don't think this album ║ │
│║ it matches the quality or intensity of When ║ │
│║ Empires Burn û mainly because I really thought ║ │
│║ that was a classic album. ║ │
│║ My biggest issue with Spirit Of Man is the sound ║ │
│║ quality. This is an area I am getting ║ │
│║ increasingly frustrated with. Right across the ║ │
│║ spectrum, sound quality varies from release to ║ │
│║ release. Fans need to be able to rely on their ║ │
│║ favourite artists û and especially the big names ║ │
│║ like Bob Catley û delivering the same reliable ║ │
│║ quality each and every time. ║ │
│║ When Empires Fall featured a near perfect sound. ║ │
│║ But just on album later and I am faced with an ║ │
│║ issue that takes away some of my enjoyment of ║ │
│║ this album. ║ │
│║ Yes, this is a nice big rock record, but some of ║ │
│║ that impact is lost with a sound that is thinner ║ │
│║ than it should be. ║ │
│║ What is hardest for me to understand is why this ║ │
│║ album is hard to listen to at high volume. Let's ║ │
│║ face it û we all want to crank the volume, but ║ │
│║ when doing so here, the frequency hurts my ears. ║ │
│║ Sonically this album has a tinny edge to it that ║ │
│║ makes it near impossible to crank loud with ║ │
│║ comfort. ║ │
│║ Strangely enough, I found myself stating this ║ │
│║ very same fact in regards to the last Vince ║ │
│║ O'Regan produced album û Pulse's World's Apart û ║ │
│║ an album that was virtually ruined by poor ║ │
│║ production and mastering. ║ │
│║ On Spirit Of Man I find the rhythm section is ║ │
│║ sometimes too low in the mix and even Bob's lead ║ │
│║ vocals sometimes don't seem as powerful as I ║ │
│║ know they are in real life and play second ║ │
│║ fiddle to the music. ║ │
│║ If you can set aside the sound issues and look ║ │
│║ at the songs that make up this album, you will ║ │
│║ get more satisfaction. ║ │
│║ Spirit Of Man sees the music split in two ║ │
│║ directions. Some of the album follows the harder ║ │
│║ rocking path set by When Empires Burn and the ║ │
│║ other half of the album steps back into a more ║ │
│║ melodic field that fans of classic Magnum will ║ │
│║ most certainly appreciate. ║ │
│║ Track By Track: ║ │
│║ Heart Of Stone is a high energy album opener ║ │
│║ which ranks as one of Catley's hardest rocking ║ │
│║ tunes to date. ║ │
│║ Moment Of Truth retains the uptempo pace, but ║ │
│║ adds more keyboards and a very melodic chorus ║ │
│║ which fans will love. It harks back to the sound ║ │
│║ of the first couple of Catley solo records. ║ │
│║ In The Name Of The Cause is a track I can't seem ║ │
│║ to warm to. It suits Bob's style and voice and ║ │
│║ indeed, the album as a whole, but I'm still ║ │
│║ struggling to like the melody. ║ │
│║ Blinded By A Lie is a song which I don't love ║ │
│║ the chorus for, but the song itself is still ║ │
│║ effective and catchy. ║ │
│║ The big ballad Last Snows Of Winter is a new ║ │
│║ Catley classic. This is one of a few very ║ │
│║ Magnum-esque tracks and a song I have a lot of ║ │
│║ time for. The chorus has that epic Magnum feel ║ │
│║ and treads familiar ground. One of the album's ║ │
│║ strongest tracks. ║ │
│║ Spirit Of Man is another track I'm struggling ║ │
│║ with. I think there is far too much going on at ║ │
│║ times within the song. Perhaps it is the poor ║ │
│║ mix and not the song itself. With a lead guitar ║ │
│║ riff, a rhythm guitar, swirling keyboards and ║ │
│║ layers of vocals, one must ensure the mix is ║ │
│║ absolutely perfect and here it isn't. The Fire ║ │
│║ Within Me is another Magnum friendly track and ║ │
│║ one which rolls along at a great pace. The ║ │
│║ chorus is also another high quality example of ║ │
│║ what works perfectly for Bob Catley. ║ │
│║ Judgement Day has a Magnum feel during the verse ║ │
│║ and then rocks through the chorus. ║ │
│║ Lost To The Night is another favourite from the ║ │
│║ album. A monster chorus and a very melodic verse ║ │
│║ see Bob delivering a great emotional vocal. ║ │
│║ Beautiful Mind is one of those haunting keyboard ║ │
│║ dominated Magnum style tracks which have that ║ │
│║ old-school appeal and one long-time fans will ║ │
│║ love. ║ │
│║ Walk On Water suffers again from a very thin ║ │
│║ sound and loses impact over what could have ║ │
│║ been. ║ │
│║ End Of The Story is one of the album's best ║ │
│║ tracks and real credit to it's writers. In ║ │
│║ typical Magnum fashion, this is an epic to close ║ │
│║ out the record. The style of the song is also ║ │
│║ very close to the sound of On A Storyteller's ║ │
│║ Night, so I know fans will appreciate this one. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In summary, this is another very good album from ║ │
│║ Bob Catley, who knows a good song when he sees ║ │
│║ it and has picked a great team to help make him ║ │
│║ look good. ║ │
│║ The songs are great, but I know the album would ║ │
│║ have been even better û possibly rising to a ║ │
│║ rank close to When Empires Burn - if a better ║ │
│║ production effort was made more a priority. For ║ │
│║ whatever reason, I haven't seen any other review ║ │
│║ that makes this point. We should expect the very ║ │
│║ best of the biggest names in this scene and more ║ │
│║ consistency from album to album. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Line Up: ║ │
│║ ╖ Bob Catley: Vocals ║ │
│║ ╖ Irvin Pratt: Keyboards ║ │
│║ ╖ Vince O'Regan: Guitar ║ │
│║ ╖ Jamie Little: Drums ║ │
│║ ╖ Al Barrow: Bass ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - Heart Of Stone [05:24] │
│ 02 - Moment Of Truth [05:14] │
│ 03 - In The Name Of The Cause [04:45] │
│ 04 - Blinded By A Lie [05:04] │
│ 05 - Last Snows Of Winter [04:57] │
│ 06 - Spirit Of Man [04:48] │
│ 07 - The Fire Within Me [06:24] │
│ 08 - Judgement Day [05:05] │
│ 09 - Lost To The Night [04:25] │
│ 10 - Beautiful Mind [04:20] │
│ 11 - Walk On Water [04:24] │
│ 12 - End Of The Story [07:48] │
│ 13 - Temptation (Bonus Track) [04:30] │
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│ Total Length : [67:08 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
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│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
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