XORIGIN — State of the Art (review)

XORIGIN — State of the Art album cover Album · 2011 · Hard Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Time Signature
Can't keep running...

Genre: melodic metal/hardrock/AOR

XorigiN may be a Norwegian rock act from 2011, but their sound is very much like that of melodic 80s American hardrock with metal elements and an AOR touch.

And I like that because a lot of 80s melodic metal and AOR/hardrock was actually very good, and so is "State of the Art" by XorigiN. A lot of the riffage, the overall sound, the lyrical subject matter, the use of keyboards and so on sound like the best of 80s melodic metal and AOR/hardrock.

Needless to say, there is a lot of melody on this release, and even some power ballads (which - while expertly performed - do not appeal to me) and a lot of melodic rock tunes with heavy guitar riffs plus a couple of more uptempo and metallic rockers. XorigiN are obviously very skilled musicians and songwriters, and they really know how to craft catchy vocal hooklines and really utilize the power of melody. The keyboards are perhaps a bit too dominant, and even cheesy at times, but, given the genre, that is something I can live with.

"State of the Art" by XorigiN is a lesson in melodic metal and AOR/hardrock and a nice reminder that the 80s style non-sleazy melodic metal is alive and kicking.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

A Sonication Technical Death Metal
OBSCURA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us