Melodic.net - The enemy within (01/07)

Escape Music starts 2007 with a pleasant surprise and that is CODE. This is a fantastic AOR/Melodic Rock album that includes former Grand Illusion members Anders Rydholm (bass,guitars, keyboards), Ola af Trampe (lead guitars) and the big surprise is lead singer Sherwood Ball. On drums they have a special guest named Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth, Steve Vai, Toto).Soundwise this is very close to Grand Illusion mixed with On The Rise, Radioactive and some touches of Toto but I must say that Sherwood Balls vocals gives the album an American touch and makes me think of Mecca.

Mr. Ball sings his loungs out and man how this man can sing, outstanding stuff he delivers. They have also managed to come up with a top-notch production that makes this sound even better. Just listen to the brilliant up-tempo rocker "Sign Up For Love" that could have been taken from a Radioactive album, classy stuff.

The opening The Enemy Within is a awesome pompish AOR-rocker with wonderful keyboards and hooklines. Listen to the vocal performance, phew I'm speachless. "Home Away From Home" is another winner with strong melodies and superb harmonies. This is a song that made me think of Seventh Key. "In The Shadows" is a stunning AOR song with powerful harmony vocals and pompish keyboards. The chorus is amazing with strong background vocals, this is AOR by numbers.

Next up is the wonderful westcoast/AOR pianoballad "How Do We Stay In Love" that makes me think of David Foster, Ok not the same class but you get the picture. The start off this album is just outstanding, what a bunch of fantastic songs. The whole album don't hold the same quality as these 5 tracks but I must say that there are not many fillers on this CODE album.

The album ends with 2 pure fantastic AOR-songs named "Flying High" and "Sworn To Silence". The later one is a stunning piano ballad with a classy chorus - just listen to the vocals, it gave me goosebumps. What a song to end this brilliant album so start this new year with a strong AOR release and buy a copy of Code's album The Enemy Within, I'm sold over this amazing album. Thumbs up to these guys and what a start to 2007.

Reviewed by: Juha

Melodic.net