AUDIOVISION
Audiovision is Christian Rivel's (Narnia, Wisdom Call, Divinefire) solo-project. He brought with him, amongst others, Lion's Share guitarist, Lars Chriss, to co-write, play on, and produce the first album.
THE CALLING (2005) RIVEL
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Line-up: Christian Rivel - Lead Vocals Lars Chriss - Lead & Rhythm Guitars Mikael Höglund - Bass Thomas Broman - Drums Andreas Lindahl - Keyboards Additional musician: Thomas Vikström - Backing Vocals |
Guests: Michael Andersson - Keyboards on 1, 2 Mats Levén - Lead and/or Backing Vocals on 1, 4, 9 Carl Johan Grimmark - Lead Guitar on 2 Hubertus Liljegren - Growling Vocals on 4, 6 Mattias "IA" Eklundh - Lead Guitar on 5, 7 Mic Michaeli - Keyboards on 5, 7, 9 Jörgen Schelander - Keyboards on 5 Sampo Axelsson - Keyboards on 5 Bruce Kulick - Lead Guitar on 6 Tommy Denander - Keyboards on 6, 9 Janne Stark - Lead Guitar on 8 Jeff Scott Soto - Lead & Backing Vocals on 8 Eric Clayton - Speaking Voice on 9 Tony Franklin - Fretless Bass on 10 Linus Kåse - Keyboards on 10 |
Man, what a busy singer Christian Rivel is these days. When this album got released, it was only 1 of 3 projects he released almost simultaneously. And to top it of, none of these were from his main band, Narnia! I for one thought that some of these projects have to be lacking quality wise, but I was wrong. Audiovision is to be considered as the man's solo project, and together with Lion's Share guitarist, Lars Chriss, who also produced this debut album, they have created a melodic metal monster! From the opening riff of "The Calling" to the very last instrumental note of "Colors", this is an album saturated with wonderful music. A thick wall of guitars are present all through the album, topped with harmonic voices, and some mood-creating keyboards. The songs are heavy and melodic at the same time. So if you can sit still during tracks like "The Calling", "Evil Or Divine" and "Face To Face", you'd better be sitting in a wheel-chair! Other choice tracks, like "Read Between The Lines" and "Hold Me" takes it down a notch, creating some space to breath, without taking anything away from the intensity of the album. It all just helps to keep the album diversity. The only negative thing I have to say about this record, have to be the addition on the cover of The Sweet's "Love Is Like Oxygen". No, they are not butchering the song, at all! In fact, it is a very well done cover track. It's just that I don't think it fits all to well here. Besides, the song is also features on a tribute album, also released on Rivel Records, so it feels a bit unnecessary to put it on here also. Still, don't mind my nitpicking, because 'The Calling' is a stellar melodic metal release! Oh, almost forgot; check out the guest-list on this record! Members and ex-members from Kiss, Grand Funk Railroad, Saviour Machine, Candlemass, Krux, At Vance, Talisman, Yngwie J.Malmsteen's Rising Force, Glenn Hughes, Lion's Share, Brazen Abbot etc. Need I go on?
Killer tracks: Another one with only good songs.
Related artists:
Narnia, Divinefire, Modest Attraction, Wisdom Call, Flaghip
