Blind Ego's previous two studio albums, being Liquid (2016, see review) and Preaching To The Choir (2020, see review) have both been very well reviewed by colleague Pedro Bekkers and yours truly reviewed Kalle Wallner's brilliant solo album Voices (see review) in 2022. The Hunting Party is Wallner's fifth studio album since his debut in 2007 and after a couple of spins I can say that I really like this new Blind Ego album, although I have some "problems" with the vocals of Kevin Kears, who normally does the lead vocals for the metalcore band Cyant; but more about that later... Fortunately, Wallner's guitar picking, riffing, and soloing is again second to none and again the comparison with legendary guitarist David Gilmour is not hard to find, but who cares about that when you get goosebumps from several guitar solos in songs on this great new album. Wallner's new album kicks off with the title track, a song with an extraordinarily strong melody and beautiful guitar solos indeed, while follow up The Stranger features a catchy chorus and Spiders is definitely a harder track, a so-called up-tempo rocker. The second part of The Hunting Party features the two longest tracks, In A Blink Of An Eye - a very emotional song with a stunning guitar solo - and Breathless; the latter almost being a prog metal song packed with hard riffs and really dark tones indeed. Finally, Wallner closes the album with the song When The Party's Over and this track, a beautiful ballad, really has some distinct Pink Floyd influences and of course brilliant guitar picking by Kalle himself. Overall, The Hunting Party is a very enjoyable album, highlighting, again Wallner's more than excellent guitar playing, but just for the record, for a new Blind Ego album I would pick/choose another lead singer as Kears's vocals are not really my cup of tea, but that is a very personal opinion indeed! Listening tip: In A Blink Of An Eye. **** Martien Koolen (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
