BALANCE OF POWER
"Book of
Secrets" (Nightmare Records)
"Perfect Balance" (Nightmare Records)
"Ten More Tales of Grand Illusion" (Nightmare Records)
"Perfect
Balance" (Nightmare; 2001)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Calling Balance of Power's "Perfect Balance" melodic rock is kind of like calling Godzilla a lizard. Calling it power metal is an underestimation of the band's considerable songwriting ability. Calling it a combination of the two is closer but still not entirely accurate.
Balance of Power play epic hard rock that shines with style and skill but also boasts a considerable sophistication that can best be described as "orchestration." Don't get me wrong - "Perfect Balance" is a disc full of hard, guitar-driven rock'n'roll, but the band's brilliance in performance, songwriting and production all meld together to form something more. The sum is truly greater than the parts - and that's high praise indeed.
Tracks run from the voracious "Higher than the Sun" to the surprisingly Journey-like "Shelter Me" (Journey-like if Zakk Wylde played guitar for that band). Some songs sound like early Ozzy, others a little like Rush, still others like lesser 80s bands, yet each song is crisply produced, thoughtfully written (both musically and lyrically) and performed with talent and gusto. Again, the word "epic" comes to mind.
"Perfect Balance" is a rich tapestry of bigger-than-life rock music. Fans of melodic and power rock will find something to like here. Fans of rougher-edged bands like Pantera and Slipknot should stay away.
Balance of Power is: Lance King - lead vocals; Pete Southern - guitars; Bill Yates - guitars; Tony Ritchie - bass; Lionel Hicks - drums.
For more information, check out www.nightmare-records.com.
"Ten
More Tales of Grand Illusion" (Nightmare; 1999)
Reviewed by Snidermann
Balance Of Power's "Ten More Tales of Grand Illusion" is pure, 80s power chord metal, despite the fact it was released in 1999. Listening to this CD brings me back to my younger days, when metal music was trying to survive in the 80s, when hair bands ruled the day. BOP, in a way, reminds me of Styx, early Warrant and Motely Cure - not so much in the way they play their music, but more in their attitude toward making great rock'n'roll in the shadow of Poison (yuk!), Bon Jovi, Cinderella and all the so-called "hard rock" bands of the time.
"Ten More Tales..." is a good representation of musical presence and the ability to make solid rock'n'roll that is reminiscent of the sound of the 80s but that still works today. BOP is a band with a moden attitude, with a satisfying dash of 1980s personality.
The reviewers of the CDs above agree - Balance of Power fucking rules!
For more information, check out Balance of Power on the net at http://www.nightmarerecords.com.
Balance is: Bill Yates, Pete Southern, Lance King, Chris Dale and Lionel Hicks.
"Book
of Secrets" (Nightmare; 1998)
Reviewed by Keith Guillotine
I love European metal bands! This band was the best I've heard in a long
time. These guys are what heavy metal is all about, as far as I'm concerned.
There is outstanding guitar work throughout this album. It's 1980s long hair reincarnated into a 21st
century explosion of dark insanity. These guys are not intimidated by RAP or POP, and truly show
their loyalty to NOT jumping on bandwagons.
I compare these guys to a combination of Dokken, AC/DC, and Cydonia. This CD made my ears
bleed ... it was that cool.
The songs eliminate the standard 3:45 "pop" crap that you hear on the radio today with every track
on this CD lasting over 5 minutes each (except for track 1, the intro).
Balance of Power works as a team to create a dynamic sound unlike any I've heard in
a long time. "Book of Secrets" is over 53 minutes of hard driving metal that will
intoxicate you then turn around and wake you up all at once.
In two words: Loved it!
Balance of Power show that there is hope for music in today's world by expressing
what they truly believe in.
I specifically loved tracks 2 ("Walking On Top Of The World") and 8
("Miracles And Dreams"). Either one of these could be a smash radio hit.
I highly recommend this CD.
Balance of Power: Lance King - Lead Vocals; Lionel Hicks - Drums; Pete Southern - Guitar;
Bill Yates - Guitar; Ivan Gunn - Keyboards; Chris Dale - Bass; Tony Ritchie and Tony O'Hora - Additional Backing Vocals;
Rob Brown - Narration.
Official Balance Of Power website is: http://www.bigfoot.com/~balanceofpower
or get the lyrics from: http://www.nightmare-records.com/balanceofpowerlyrics.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This
record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it
will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the
cover makes you wanna hurl.
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Revised: 16 Feb 2020 16:51:59 -0500.
