SOUTHERN STORM - 1999
January 8, 2003, 21 years ago
(Bonus Film)
It's getting harder these days to find prog metal bands that keep their focus on songwriting rather than using a constant display of fireworks to keep the listener interested. Southern Storm's chosen a different path, and the final result is deeply rooted in ‘70s hard rock without sounding dated or cliché. The CD kicks off with the middle eastern-flavoured title track, which is strongly influenced by early Rainbow, so it's no surprise the powerful vocals are reminiscent of Dio and Bonnet. 'Wake Me Up' is an infectious track that could do well as a single. 'Out Of Time' and 'Elegy' tastefully dwell in power ballad territory, while 'Fire' has a mid-tempo approach reminiscent of Malmsteen's classic 'I Am A Viking'. The whole album is full of haunting melodies and memorable choruses that will no doubt garner them international attention. On a small negative note, the cover artwork doesn't do justice to the timeless quality of this rather impressive debut. The CD also contains five bonus tracks sung in Bosnian. You can learn more about the band by visiting www.southernstorm.net.
