Stephen
The seventh album of Edguy that's entitled "Rocket Ride" really took you high for a wild ride from the planet power metal to planet hard rock. Departed from their earlier sound, Edguy is probably suffered from a weary and exhaustment of playing the same musical style over and over again for the last 10 years, at least that's what I read when Sammet confessed this on a webzine. I have suspected a bit of change in their prior effort, "Hellfire Club", but I thought it was only the variation and by the time of its release, "Rocket Ride" totally surprised me, clinging on the hair metal string while stepping firmly on the heavy metal platform.
Starting with "Sacrifice", a great build of smart instruments blending with Sammet's vocal thrusting high embracing the heavenly chorus, definitely a standout track, but somehow I have a feeling that they forced the song to stretch to 8 minutes unnaturally. To see how Edguy attempting to reach a wider audience, check out "Wasted Time", "Rocket Ride", or "Superheroes", all of them got the hard rock atmosphere with a commercial drip.
"Return To The Tribe", is probably the only song that's really a true power metal track with a significant Edguy signature, flowing with keyboard echo in the intro before exploding dangerously with Bohnke's double pedal monster drumming and Sammet's herculean voice. Not very bright if compared to their "Vain Glory Opera" days but this song added a dynamic flair to the whole album. While songs like "Matrix" and "The Asylum" are okay-but-passable to me, the tranguilizing ballad, "Save Me", is a wonderful piece that's charmingly sparkling, sounded mainstream to the metal communities, probably because of the modern pop influence, but as a song, this is sure belongs to the list of Edguy's best ballads ever. "Fucking With Fire" is intended to joke around with some foolish funny lyrics and musically still good, at least better than "Catch of The Century" or "Trinidad".
To sum up what's "Rocket Ride" is about is simple. Edguy is clearly aiming for a larger market to appreciate their music because I know they believe by one or two acceptable songs to the new fans, that could open the door for them to explore their earlier discography, and I don't see nothing's wrong with that. Power metal fans may defy this album as a horrid effort and a decadence, but to me, the whole ride is quite fun.