|
Abraxas is : Oliver
Mindner on Guitar, Heiko Burst on Drums, Chris Klauke
on Vocals, Andreas Hittinger on Keyboards, Jan Muller
on Bass and Stephan Rohner on Guitar.
The Tracks are : 'Gates To Eden', 'Explorers', 'Tomorrow's World',
'Dreamers Island', 'Crusaders Prayer', 'Dream Dealer', 'Cry Of the
Nature', 'Signs', 'Euphoria', 'Place Without Mirrors', 'The Liason'
+ Bonus tracks 'Stolen Memories', 'Faded Photographs' and
'Into The Light'.
Abraxas was formed in 1985 by bassist Jan Muller and
drummer Heiko Burst in the southern region of Germany.
By 1988 they had started gigging and put out their first demo tape
'Vampire'. The success of the band has continued to grow from
that point onward, with momentum gaining at the acquisition of a talented
15 year old guitarist Oliver Mindner, and vocalist Joachim
Hittinger.
With these members in the line-up, Abraxas recorded their second
demo in 1989 and gave it the intriguing title 'Shattered By A Terrible
Prediction'. On the strength of the tape they were able to play
some big shows and were turning up in national magazines such as Metal
Hammer, Break out and Rock Hard.
It was at this time that Multimedia Publishing took an interest in
releasing the demo as an E.P. The company manufactured 1,000 copies,
but did not follow through in getting the product into the hands of
the public. The band was then left with the task of doing their own
distribution. Later that year, Abraxas added Stephan Rohner
as asecond guitarist and Andreas Hittinger as keyboardist.
A year later, Joachim departed and was replaced by ex-Mania
frontman Chris Klauke, with this final change, the line-up
has remained the same.
In 1990 they recorded 'Gates To Eden'. While several offers
came in from record companies, the band felt these offers were not
acceptable and decided to wait patiently for a better deal.
Abraxas managed to sell quite a lot of tapes and in Dec '91
recorded a follow-up demo known as 'Signs'.
In '92 Abraxas came in 1st place out of 18 bands at the newcomer
festival in Reutlingen and then took 3rd place at the biggest German
showcase/band competition at Rockfabrik in Ludwigsburg. It was now
time for Abraas to move beyond the demo stage, so they entered Marquee
studios in Reutlingen to record their first full-length album. The
impressive self-financed work originally titled 'The Liason'
was released in Japan in Sept '93.
Although the acclaim for the record was wide, circumstances beyond
the control of the band interfered with 'The Liason' getting
the worldwide circulation that it should have had. It was supposed
to be released in Europe immediately following it's appearance in
Japan, but that did not happen due to the intended European label
being sold and it's direction changing. No more heavy metal releases.
Ultimately this label disappeared from the marketplace. A former employee
of that label, who left to work for another company, tried to bring
Abraxas aboard and get them a deal, but nothing materialized.
the label then went bankrupt a short time later. The person however,
did not lose his faith in Abraxas and succeeded in signing
the band to his own new formed label.
In order to make the almost 3 year old 'The Liason' album more
attractive, the songs were digitally remastered in a new order with
3 bonus tracks and the title was changed to 'Tomorrows World'.
The CD was now ready for re-release.
But it wasn't to be . The new label went bankrupt and was sold before
the album could be released. Time passed before a Dutch company announced
it's willingness to release the album. The gods were still refusing
to look on the band with fvour, because this venture also failed because
of differences in opinion between the label and the distributers shortly
before the product was finished. |And so for the meantime, all releases
were put on ice.
Limb Music Products then decided to release the album on their brand
new label. after all this time, the seemingly impossible will happen
'Tomorrow's World' Has now been released.
The first track is 'Gates To Eden', comes in hard, heavy, fast
and furious. An excellent track with a great combination of Speed
Metal and Symphonic Rock. The vocals are excellent , there's a nice
interplay between keyboards and guitar and some nice changes in tempo
and direction. There's an excellent guitar solo then the whole thing
slows down to a floating keyboard, acoustic guitar and the vocals
are a bit softer. Gradually building up back to the original heaviness.
Next is 'Explorers', which starts off with an acoustic guitar,
then quickly changes to electric. Then the RIFF comes in. Great vocals,
great guitar, nice keyboards then a slight change in direction followed
by a superb guitar solo , then back to the riff and vocals.
The third track is 'Tomorrow's World', another speed metal
track, quite a catchy chorus. nice changes in direction, great guitar
solo's.
'Dreamer's Island', starts with solo guitar and soft vocals
then comes in heavy with some great guitar, the vocals are again superb,
and there's a really catchy chorus, superb guitar solo.
Next is 'Crusaders Prayer', starts with a fade-in harmonized
rhythm building up to a melodic power metal anthem. The vocals are
superb, infact everything is superb on this track. Definately one
of my favourites.
'Dream Dealer', another great track, great guitar, nice changes
in tempo and direction and another superb guitar solo.
Track seven is 'Cry Of The Nature', starts off fast and furious
and continues for most of the track, there a catchy chorus, which
after listening to a few times you'll find yourself singing along.
'Signs' an excellent track, starts off heavy then when the
vocals start quietens down with a heavy riff coming in later, another
catchy chorus
Listen to the signs of time
Don't obey those master of lies
Listen to the signs of time
Find your way to feel all right
'Euphoria', starts with a heavy riff before going into a speed
metal riff with the vocals. Many changes in tempo and direction. Has
a quieter part in the middle, but again there's quite a catchy chorus.
'Place Without Mirrors',another great track, great vocals,
great guitar. Superb solo.
'The Liason', starting with an acoustic guitar and Chris
singing softly then a fade-in heavy guitar riff comes in. Great keyboards
and what I can only describe as a fairground kind of chorus. The bass
is just brilliant and the guitar is superb.
Track twelve is 'Stolen Memories', first of the bonus tracks,
great track, superb guitar, great vocals.
'Faded Photographs',great track, great guitar
And the last track is 'Into The Light', excellent track, fast,
great vocals and great guitar.
Tomorrow's World is an album every POWER METAL fan should have
in his/her collection. All I can say is BUY IT NOW!!!
This CD is released by Limb Music Products
Limb Music Products & Publishing
Postfach 60 25 20
22235 Hamburg, Germany
Fax: +49 - (0)40 - 53 10 90 50
Website : http://www.limb-music.de/
Email : info@limb-music.de
|
