Detailed Reviews [Ivory Night – 2010 - "The Healing"]

Prolusion. Here is “The Healing”, the latest release by Germany’s IVORY NIGHT. The CD arrived without a press kit.

Analysis. While only lasting for 47 minutes, “The Healing” consists of 13 tracks, all of which are rather heavy in vocals. So don’t expect anything progressive from this album. With the exception of the disc opener, Cashflow, on which the band tries to play Techno Thrash in the style of Mekong Delta (without any notable success: compositionally and technically alike), and two hard rock tunes, Fly by Night and Pop Star (both of which are the most trivial compositions here), the music is conventional New Wave of British Heavy Metal and is highly derivative in addition. Think mid-‘80s Judas Priest with ‘elements’ of Iron Maiden, and you will hit the jackpot even without playing, meaning the album. The vocalist for the most part imitates Rob Halford, while the rest of the musicians are either right on the same rut, ‘bravely’ quoting the manner of the former band’s playing, or recollect that they have another benefactor, most frequently doing so on tracks 3, 6, 8 & 10. In terms of writing, however, I’d put Ivory Night two steps behind any of their teachers in absentia. The songs lack clever transitions (from vocals-based to purely instrumental arrangements in particular) and melodic hooks, which are necessary to make this type of rock music work at its full potential. On the other hand, there are quite a few notorious vocal hooks, while the vocal sections themselves most often represent an alternation of couplets and refrains. All in all, “The Healing” (of what, by the way?) is a release whose point of destination is the realm inhabited by fans of traditional heavy metal, exclusively. Take this as a joke or not, but I personally didn’t feel better after I’ve listened to it. I think that even those who only listen to progressive hard rock will hardly find something healing here.

Conclusion. Enough said. Maybe this writing better suits a short review in format. But what would I add here, if nothing essential seems to be missed?

VM=Vitaly Menshikov: April 4, 2011
The Rating Room