### Allen / Lande: The battle

#### 13/10/08 || HailandKill

The world may never know why self-proclaimed Swedish “stunt guitarist” extraordinaire Magnus Karlsson put this album together, but it’s sure glad he did. Recruiting the two finest singers in what passes for progressive power metal, namely the hulking Symphony X guy and Masterplan’s Jorn Lande, he combines their talent to create the decade’s finest slab of no frills heavy metal. Mind you, this isn’t as progressive as his two guests’ backgrounds, nor does it harken to the good ole 80’s. Nope, “The Battle” is the tastiest offering of unadulterated backward-looking but forward-thinking hard rock (think Firehouse or Mr. Big) that will likely grace your ears. Devoid of thrash, with barely any speed, and certainly no blast beats, this is pure hooks and melody screaming-your-lungs-out gratification.

Opener “Another Battle” is resplendent with its keyboards and grandiose beginning, the gently sung verses and pop chorus – two ingredients that make this such a great album – lending it a vibe familiar to most power metal fans. Nothing new here, but its one of those songs that does its job so well, your ears will be clapping in approval. Where “Another Battle” had both singers on center stage, “Hunter’s Night” is Russell Allen’s time to shine as the music places itself at the mercy of his perfect singing voice. The first among “The Battle’s” smoother moments happens at “Wish for a Miracle”. The whimsical keyboards at its start starkly contrasted by Jorn Lande’s lonesome croons till the tempo gets your heart racing. “Reach A Little Longer” could very well be one of those relationship songs involving pianos and pleading. It’s for people who’ve fallen in love and are trying to hold on. Desperately. Careful here, you might start to cry.

Shuffling the singers with nary a stylistic difference, the upbeat “Come Alive” and “Truth About Our Time” are guaranteed panty soakers for a different era (the early 90’s). Jorn Lande lets his voice loose for “My Own Way Home” while Russell chills on the out and out pop song that’s “Ask You Anyway”. “Silent Rage” is a misleading title because if you’re expecting a harder edge this time around, don’t. It’s a shared kick in the pants that’s high-energy and family friendly. No Satan here kiddies, even if the Allen/Lande union has exorcised the devil from your penis by track nine. Actually the commercial overtones of “The Battle” are so goddamn obvious – given away by sing along choruses, tight arrangements, and positive lyrics – you aren’t sure if it should belong to your playlist. However, once the barriers have gone down, you’ll be like a chick giving in to a player’s advances, wholeheartedly embracing the album’s seductiveness.

What’s so magical about “The Battle” is it never goes downhill or spirals into a last leg of filler. “Where Have the Angels Gone” and the glittering “Universe of Light”, while still a shared effort for the celebrity singers here, maintains the consistency. “Universe . . .” even has the pizzazz of an ending complete with fireworks. “The Forgotten Ones” provides closure like the credit roll after a movie, equal parts sad and whimsical, it would have made a great chart topping single – for a metallic boy band. Having taken the ride, you realize the album didn’t deliver the brutality its cover art promised (a showdown between primeval dinosaurs) yet still managed to feed you the choicest morsels of heavy metal.

No longer fooled by its title, “The Battle” isn’t Russell and Jorn fighting with their voices. On this beautiful same-sex vocal marriage, each artist consummates their abilities to the accompaniment of Magnus Karlsson’s orgasmic guitar virtuosity. It’s one hell of a stunt, and it worked.

9 giant fighting dinosaurs out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2005
- Label: Frontiers Records
- Website: www.magnus-karlsson.com
- Band
- Russel Allen: vocals
- Jorn “Porn” Lande: vocals
- Magnus Karlsson: guitars, bass, keyboards
- Jaime Salazar: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Another Battle
- 02. Hunter’s Night
- 03. Wish for a Miracle
- 04. Reach a Little Longer
- 05. Come Alive
- 06. Truth About Our Time
- 07. My Own Way Home
- 08. Ask You Anyway
- 09. Silent Rage
- 10. Where Have the Angels Gone
- 11. Universe of Light
- 12. The Forgotten Ones