FIREWIND + TALON =!!OUTLOUD!!
Nikiforos V. Skoumas | Athens Greece, Cambridge UK | 09/19/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"OUTLOUD is a brand new Greek-American melodic metal band with strong 80s influences. Clearly this collaboration is probably the biggest surprise in the genre of melodic Hard Rock-Metal for 2009 as it brings together some of the greatest musicians from the US and Greece; FIREWIND's Bob Katsionis (keys-guitars) and Mark Cross (drums) join forces with the voice of TALON Chandler Mogel. The line up is completed by Greek newcomers Tony Kash (guitars) and Jason Mercury (bass).
The result is top notch melodic hard rock/metal with strong references to 80s.
Clearly the release does not feature the flamboyant guitar work and aggressive rhythm section of FIREWIND yet it is nothing but full of the catchiest choruses and infectious melodies one can find in a release of this kind. Tracks like "Tonight", "We run" and "Breathing Fire" are prime examples of good time rock and party metal.
As both FIREWIND and TALON are personal favorites it was pure excitement to find an album that brings to front such collaboration. This album is an absolute must for any fan of FIREWIND or TALON since the musicians live up to their reputation, capable of producing relevant output outside of the comfort zone of their original bands.
"Rockhard" Greek magazine (issue 45) marks this album with 8/10 commenting: "This is easily one of the best albums of 2009 for the genre of melodic metal"
"Metal Hammer" Greek magazine (issue 297) also marks this album with 8/10 commenting: "The perfect soundtrack for your saturday night out!""
Catch 22
Paul Lawrence | Australia | 10/29/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Outloud are comprised of Chandler Mogel (vox), Bob Katsionis (Lead G + keys), Tony Kash (Rhythm G), Jason Mercury (B) and Mark Cross (D). The album is largely a labour of love by Bob Katsionis who produced and engineered the thing as well as writing it with Tony Kash, though the mixing and mastering was by Tommy `record a week' Hansen in that crystal clear and lush way so beloved of Euro product of the 00's.
And certainly the record is well suited to such a treatment. Paradoxically, if this was released 20 years ago it would have been a couple of decades before it's time in many respects. As it is, being released in 2009 it is in plenty of other ways 20 years behind the times. The melodies here are just gorgeous. The arrangements quite proudly use plenty of great guitar solos and killer gang chorus effects and it's a great disc for driving down the highway to. Weirdly enough it's the uniform quality of the CD that detracts from it slightly as there are few peaks and valleys to break up the record for the listener (gee - I'm hard to please huh?). But if pressed I'd have to point the prospective buyer to the very fine numbers What I Need and We Run as being very good examples of the sort of stuff you are gonna get here. And they'll show you how this band play both loudly and proudly with the aim of - whisper it - entertaining you. The songs are attacked with verve and spirit and I defy anybody to listen to this without cracking a smile, I mean this is a band that have credited the model on the cover! Oh if only I was 15 years younger....
Derivative for sure but so is just about everything else and for it's sheer youthful exuberance I have no option but to award a healthy four stars."
Outloud good debute
James M. Keffer | leabon ohio | 11/07/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very solid debute album it not what you exspect whit the lead guitar player of firewind and the singer of talon.The first 3 songs youll probally be saying on know another cd where all the songs sound the same ,after that it begins.The songs are well written and played .I gave it a 4 because of the two ballads on it but the rest of the cd is a classic rock feast.Buy this cd this band deserve to be heard,i hope this review was helpfull to you"
