Artist : Allen/Olzon

Album : Worlds Apart

Release Date : 06-03-2020

Added : 23-04-2020

Album of the playlist 2020 : Metal symphonic albums of the year

The 'Frontiers' label is quite customary due to the fact that it offers associations of artists from the metal scene because after 'Russell Allen' and 'Jorne Lande' who have already released 4 albums ('The Battle (2005)', 'The Revenge (2007)', 'The Showdown (2010)' and 'The Great Design (2014)'), it's the turn of the duo composed of 'Anette Olzon' ('The Dark Element') and 'Russell Allen' ('Symphony X') to release a first studio recording and we also find as for 'Allen/Lande' (except for the album 'The Great Design'), the multi-instrumentalist 'Magnus Karlson' who took care of all the compositions and who occupies a special place in the world of melodic metal ('The Ferrymen', 'Place Vendome' or the duo 'Kiske/Sommerville' and the next album to be released in early May from his ‘Free Fall’ project ).

And after a first listening, we are swept away by a flood of powerful and melodic compositions as the Swede knows how to do so well and the choice of singles was certainly a real headache because each title could pretend to do the promotion of this album. We therefore navigate through energetic compositions between symphonic and melodic metal by varying the intensities : 'Never Die' which opens the album is powerful and grand and reflects the whole album well with remarkable symphonic arrangements, a melody that stays engraved in your head and a beautiful demonstration of Magnus a the guitar. We can also note that the album is divided into 3 parts and the titles are judiciously placed for a global homogeneity : first of all the five compositions in which Anette and Russel form a magnificent vocal duo ('Worlds Apart', 'What If I Live' , 'No Sign of Life', 'My Ennemy' and 'Who's Gonna Stop Me Now'). The strong point of these titles is of course for me the mixture of the two vocal registers with 'What If I Live', 'No Sign of Life' and 'Who's Gonna Stop Me Now' in which the choruses are a pure feast for the ears , the vocal harmonies being perfect. The other titles are therefore divided equally between 'Anette Olzon' and 'Russell Allen' : 'Never Die', 'Lost Soul' and 'Who You Really Are' for Russell and 'I'll Never Leave You', 'On More Chance' and 'Cold Inside' for Anette who in the last 2 titles mentioned, shows all her vocal talent in a calmer register.

In summary, this talented mixed duo 'Anette Olzon'/'Russell Allen' interpreting the melodic and very effective compositions of 'Magnus Karlsson' is a real success and 'Worlds Apart' will undoubtedly be appreciated by an audience navigating between symphonic metal and melodic metal...

Line Up / Musicians

Anette Olzon (Vocal), Russell Allen (Vocal), Magnus Karlsson (Guitar, Bass, Keybords), Anders Köllerfors (Drums)