TEN / Albion (2014)

To be really honest with you here, I was very very curious about TEN's newest album. I like this band a lot and, in the past, Ten has released some really interesting albums such as "X", "Spellbound" and "Far Beyond The World". The band after a long break came back with two strong efforts, "Stormwarning" and "Heresy And Creed", and nowadays, it is back again with probably one of its best album ever! And when I say 'ever,' I mean it; this new one, "Albion", is simply breathtaking from start to finish.

A bit heavier, sometimes with a strong progressive 'touch', without loosing the big melodies, the fantastic harmonies and generally all the things that made this band well-known to the melodic hard rock audience. The sound is tighter and every song here is just killer; no filler in sight, just pure melodic heavy rock stuff with attitude. Gary Hughes (vocals) sings his heart out and his performances are the cherry on top!!!

The opening tune of "Alone In The Dark Tonight" is pure 80's hard rock heaven!! Yes, this song grabbed me at once and left me hungry for more!! Powerful, melodic and catchy, this track will impress you! "Battlefield" is yet another highlight out of the new record! It is a typical TEN track with a big melodic line, a fine hook and chorus line, great arrangements and a killer guitar work! "Die For Me" moves into some Whitesnake-esque paths and it's the ultimate highlight from the new record.  The vocals, the attitude, the chorus, the guitars...everything here is stunning, there are no words to describe this really big anthem! "Wild Horses" is another gem out of "Albion". It has a 'darker' vibe in it but, when it comes to chorus, then comes the real thing; catchy as hell that grabs you by the balls! Check, also, the amazing and powerful (and again very Whitesnake-ish) ballad of "Sometimes Love Takes The Long Way Home".

I think that TEN exaggerate themselves with ALBION and they deliver their strongest effort to-date! Powerful and melodic with an 80's vibe in it, some classic Whitesnake pinches here and there, strong vocal lines by a very talented singer and a tight musicianship. Do you want more?
Heavy Paradise's Rating : 9/10

Track Listing :
01. ALONE IN THE DARK TONIGHT
02. BATTLEFIELD
03. IT’S ALIVE
04. ALBION BORN
05. SOMETIMES LOVE TAKES THE LONG WAY HOME
06. A SMUGGLER’S TALE
07. IT ENDS THIS DAY
08. DIE FOR ME
09. GIOCO D’AMOURE
010. WILD HORSES