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"When Toby Hitchcock teams up with Eclipse's frontman for his first solo album, the result is “Mercury's Down”, a collection of catchy, rousing melodies."
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4/5
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With the release of Pride Of Lions' eponymous debut album, Jim Peterik introduced us to the talent of a hitherto unknown young singer: Toby Hitchcock. In the space of eight years and four albums - including one live release - the vocalist has succeeded in splashing the AOR world with his immense talent. So it comes as no surprise to see him embarking on a solo adventure. For this, he has teamed up with Eclipse leader and multi-instrumentalist Erik Martensson. As the Swedish band is used to offering more muscular work than Pride Of Lions, there's plenty to whet the appetites of fans eager to see what the American is capable of when he ventures into these unusual horizons.
What's immediately striking on listening to “Mercury's Down” is the complementarity of its two masterminds, who have succeeded in building a bridge between the AOR of the USA and the melodic hard rock of northern lands. The two melodic bombs that kick off the festivities are unstoppable in their own right. The single 'This Is The Moment' immediately cuts off any desire to resist, with its energetic riff close to Treat and Eclipse, its hyper-catchy chorus and its structure that's effective without being simplistic. The track also features a perfectly calibrated break to add to the tension of the separation evoked in the lyrics. Barely enough time to catch your breath before 'Strong Enough' arrives with equivalent elements, but leaning more towards a Survivor or Journey-style AOR. The solo proves that Erik Martensson was undoubtedly fed Neal Schon's work in his youth.
While the rest of the album is full of equally successful and irresistible pieces, it would be too boring to list them all. Instead, we'll focus on the performances of the two main architects of this energetic, melodic little masterpiece. While we are already accustomed to Erik Martensson's compositional sense and instrumental virtuosity, Toby Hitchcock steps out of his comfort zone. His distress is poignant on 'How To Stop', in which soaring passages worthy of Airbag have been judiciously slipped in. He is absolutely heartbreaking on the ballad 'One Day I'll Stop Loving You', reinforced by gospel choirs. His rage sweeps everything in its path on the razor-sharp 'Tear Down The Barricades', and he knows how to turn dark on the eponymous closing track with its chanted, haunting chorus.
A veritable compendium of catchy, rousing melodies, “Mercury's Down” will satisfy fans of both American AOR and Scandinavian hard melody. This is a more than convincing collaboration, for which we hope there will be a follow-up, as the two artists involved demonstrate a complementarity equal to their respective talents. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. This Is The Moment - 5:01
 02. Strong Enough - 5:05
03. How To Stop - 4:55
04. Let Go - 4:41
05. One Day I'll Stop Loving You - 4:04
06. I Should've Said - 4:23
07. If It's To Be (it's Up To Me) - 3:57
08. Just Say Goodbye - 4:59
09. Summernights In Cabo - 5:05
10. Tear Down The Barricades - 4:22
11. A Different Drum - 4:10
12. Mercury's Down - 3:42
13. Strong Enough (feat. Erik Martensson) (japanese Bonus Track) - 5:09
LINEUP:
Erik Martensson: Guitares / Basse / Claviers / Batterie
Toby Hitchcock: Chant
Fredrik Folkare: Guitares / Invité
Magnus Henriksson: Guitares / Invité
Magnus Ulfstedt: Batterie / Invité
Miqael Persson: Invité / Chœurs
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READERS
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STAFF:
4/5 (1 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH TOBY HITCHCOCK
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