DOUBLE DEALER - Double Dealer
January 12, 2001, 23 years ago
(Limb Music)
This band has reportedly been knocking 'em dead in their native Japan, garnering 93 of a possible 100 points in Burrn Magazine, a publication that has historically been very hard on Japanese talent. Double Dealer features members of Saber Tiger and Concerto Moon, guitarist Norifumi Shima being the focal point here as this project started out as his solo album. Shima comes off as an Asian Yngwie J. Malmsteen, and having said that, the album soars and suffers with a similar Malmsteen flair. It starts off with a few balls-out rockers, only to lose steam and edge when the tempo slows. Production is gritty and dark, which works against this style of metal, which is firmly entrenched in the groove of old Deep Purple and the aforementioned uber-Swede. Shima most assuredly smokes when he pulls out all the stops, and the vocals are all laid down in English, but half the material is instantly forgettable. Looking forward to see if album #2, due out later this year, comes without the bugs.
