Tony Martin will always be known as the lead singer of Black Sabbath during their darkest hours and for being the biggest heavy metal underdog this side of Blaze Bayley. That said, he has done just about everything in his power to get out of that shadow with two full-length solo albums and a slew of guest performances to his name.
Formerly known as The Cage, Martin’s collaboration with the instrumentalists of Voodoo Hill as led by Dario Mollo may be his most enduring project that isn’t the band that must not be named. As evidenced by the album’s title, this is the group’s third effort together as well as the first they’ve put out in a decade.
Does Your Skin Start Crawling When You Hear Me Speak?
Musically, Mollo/Martin has a style that is rather tricky to place. For the most part, it is quite similar to the Scream album that Martin put out in 2005 as it features an old school metal approach that is equally driven by the vocals and guitars.
Yet, at the same time, this album also shows off two distinct sides of that sound. A few songs on here manage to be the heaviest that Martin has ever put to tape while a few others have more influence taken from classic rock. Either way, the melody remains and the hooks are consistent.
As expected, the band members work pretty well together and benefit from a polished production job. The guitars have a rather Zakk Wylde tinge to them as they show off a strong crunchy and healthy amount of pitch harmonics though they never sound too dumbed down. The drums and keyboards also manage to set up a prominent foundation on tracks such as the mid-tempo “Cirque Du Freak.”
And as a longtime fan of Tony Martin’s work, I have to give his vocal performance credit as he picks up right where Scream left off and never shows any signs of wearing out. His tone is still as smooth as ever though he does have a few angrier moments and the lyrics might be his most pessimistic to date.
Tell Me What You Think It’s Worth
Speaking of pessimism, that anger is nowhere near as prominent on any other track as it is on the opening “Wicked World.” The guitars and bass operate on a grinding chug, the vocals are restrained with a chilling effect during the building verses, and the chorus is made doubly explosive with the layered vocal harmonies. It may be the heaviest thing that Martin has ever been a part of and definitely does a great job of grabbing the listener’s attention.
But while the album may have hit its peak a little too early with its opener, there are a few other heavy tracks. “Cirque Du Freak” and “Blind Fury” keep the momentum quite nicely with their mid-tempo groove even if the former’s chorus does play out like a heavier version of Van Halen’s “Right Now” while “Still In Love With You” and “War Dance” are both driven by some rather spooky riffs/keyboard work.
As previously mentioned, there is also a more pronounced rock side to this album that manages to work pretty well. While there are few moments where the structure on “One Of The Few” is a little awkward, it’s still pretty solid. “Can’t Stay Here” dabbles in mid-tempo territory with lighter guitars while “Don’t Know What It Is About You” may be the most upbeat song on here.
But with those sides of the album established, there are a few outliers here and there. “Oh My Soul” is a noteworthy track thanks to its loose execution and a hazy atmosphere that gives it an almost ballad feel. The closing “Violet Moon,” however, reminds one of a more optimistic “Nightwing” thanks to a subdued beginning that goes on to uplifting ground.
We’re Gonna Come Together Soon
As someone who has been waiting for quite some time to hear what Tony Martin’s been up to lately, this manages to be a pretty satisfying release. The songs manage to be distinct and a good variety of styles are shown off, and the music is immediate while allowing time to resonate a little deeper with each listen.
If anything, this should be a good motivational boost for Martin to finish his work on the elusive Book Of Shadows album that was announced a few years back, especially since Mollo has since joined his Headless Cross backing band. Come on, Tony, heavy metal needs more violin solos!
Current Highlights:
- “Wicked World”
- “Cirque Du Freak”
- “Oh My Soul”
- “Still In Love With You”
- “Don’t Know What It Is About You”
Christopher Latta - I am the lead singer/bassist of Psychic Faith and the writer of many hard rock and heavy metal reviews
Join the Conversation