[.ca] Balance

Unbalanced:
As much as I hate to admit it after anxiously awaiting the release of a new Tempest album, the review by bogobundus2 has hit the nail directly on the head -- Balance is not only "a little bit off," but it truly does sound "like a group of less-skilled musicians trying to imitate Tempest." I seriously doubt the end result has anything to do with allowing the new lineup time to gel, remember -- Turn of the Wheel, their first Magna Carta release, and a killer Tempest album -- was recorded shortly after Jay Nania joined and Michael Mullen rejoined. Balance is truly a case of a band who has lost it's focus and has been unable to recover from the long-term and consistent loss of truly fantastic musicians. Gone is Robbie Wulenjohn. While Rob may not have been the most technically gifted guitarist ever to grace Tempest's lineup, he certainly had a flair for creating dangerous yet memorable solos. Gone is Michael Mullen. Michael truly added a tremendous amount to the band. Compare Balance to Turn of the Wheel or the fantastic Gravel Walk and you'll know what I mean. Gone is Jay Nania. Bravo for bogubundus2 in referring to Jay as one of the most underrated bassists of all time. I don't think it's a coincidence that when Jay joined Tempest that the band dramatically changed for the best. He was truly a dynamic force and was one of the best bassists I or anyone who had been to a Tempest show during his tenure had ever seen. When he played, jaws dropped. Since the departure of these members, or what I call the "classic Tempest lineup," the band has never been able to recover. Sometimes it's just not possible to fill those shoes. Lief's lackluster performance and Robert Berry's surprising drop in production values are testament to this. Lief sounds as if he's going through the motions fully aware of the fact that he is no longer surrounded by a killing machine. There is very little about Balance that could excite a Tempest fan, particulary fans of the classic Tempest. Do yourself a favor and check out Gravel Walk or Turn of the Wheel. Those are really the albums that defined this formerly great band. Maybe someday they will truly achieve Balance, however, it hasn't happened with their latest release.

Traditional ballads that rock:
An energetic marriage of folk ballads and rock, the music of Tempest deftly weaves traditional melodies with modern riffs. This is the first album of theirs I have listened to, and basing my judgment on its own merits I think it's very well-crafted (although no recording could match the band's live performances). Whether a sentimental acoustic piece or a lively number infused with edgy riffs, each track has a captivating rhythm that makes for really pleasurable listening. And the medleys have seamless transitions that in themselves exhibit the professional level of Tempest's craft. Though I personally like the instrumental sections best, frontman Lief Sorbye's vocals offer an irresistible storytelling flavor to the songs. Like "The Journeyman," his earnest intonations invite the listener to follow wherever Tempest roams.

Sorry Tempest...:
As much as I love Tempest's music (and have for years), I simply cannot give this CD a good review. It seems to me that Lief and company simply went into the studio and said, "okay, let's just play loud music" They've gone back to a garage band sound, which doesn't bode well with folk fans. The guitar is all reverb with very few clear notes. Lief's singing sounds flat and the mix is all over the board. Sorry guys, but these sessions should have been scrapped. Addendum: After sitting on the shelf for quite a while, I decided to give this CD another spin and it is now growing on me. I'm still quite disappointed in the quality of the recording, but the music is enjoyable, if you give it a chance. Cheers 2nd addendum: The CD was sitting on the sehlf, not me.

Great!:
Wonderful cd, I did not regret buying it, and can hardly wait until the next cd of this wonderful celtic rock (or folk rock, or whatever...) band as the new players become better and better at their teamwork.

A different sound:
This album is different than previous albums by Tempest. Yes there are a couple of songs with a heavy metal sound BUT they are great songs. Listen to Dance of the Sand Witches and the Battlea Mountain Breakdown. Todd Ewveans has done a greqat job on guitar. The fiddler is not as good as Michael was and is no lo0nger with the band and haas been replaced by Susan who, while not a Michael Mullen yet has great promise in replacing him. (Just saw the band tonight as a matter of fact). This band can play rock with the best of them. The mixing on this album was poor and I remixed it a bit on my own computer and it drastically improved some of the songs.

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