RESURRECTION KINGS – Skygazer

RESURRECTION KINGS – Skygazer

"Skygazer" by the awesome collective of musicians that is Resurrection Kings is an exciting and appealing mixture of melodic hard rock and epic-sounding heavy metal where Craig Goldy’s superb riff-wizardry, Vinny Appice’s rock-solid drumming, and Chas West’s charismatic vocals complement each other beautifully. There is an emphasis on those huge, glorious tunes that recall legends ala Rainbow, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and early 80s Black Sabbath, and in case you were wondering, that is a pretty damn good thing in my book.

What makes "Skygazer" better and more memorable than its predecessor from 2016 is the fact that there are more highlights and standout tracks to be discovered and enjoyed here. As I mentioned earlier on, it boasts some majestic compositions with the catchiest and most captivating ones being "Calling All Angels", "Angry Demons", "Savior of Souls", and the title song. "Tears" is a fantastic heavy metal workout that is as muscular as it is vigorous. Also, note how the funky verse in "Troubled Soul" seems to pay a subtle musical nod to Deep Purple’s "Sail Away" – very cool stuff.

"Skygazer" lacks a true, cohesive band-feel and is arguably less organic and vibrant than the self-titled debut offering in terms of its sound and vibe, but again, the song material is more interesting and varied this time around and the 2021 opus simply possesses more depth, substance, and potency. I recall the group’s debut LP receiving some rather harsh and negative reviews back in 2016, which is something that I never really understood as I think Resurrection Kings is one of the best (if not the best) outfit to come out of the DIO family. Incredibly skilled musicians writing great tunes that stir the imagination – what is not to love about that?!

 

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