C.O.P. UK – No Place For Heaven (2016)

“No Place For Heaven” is the third album from the British, Sheffield-based band C.O.P. UK also known as CRIMES OF PASSION. Some changes are afoot with new guitarist Andrew Mewse and bassist Scott Jordan joining the nucleus of vocalist Dale Radcliffe, guitarist Charles Staton and drummer Kev Tonge that recorded previous album
In addition, the sound has been augmented with the addition of a keyboard player, namely Jaded Heart, Circle II Circle and Tramp’s White Lion man Henning Wanner, enabling the arrangements to carefully develop and shine anew.

With that said, the biggest change comes with the sound. Traditionally a Melodic Metal band built on a British Steel foundation like their home city, this new material has a strong European influence enhanced by Sascha Paeth’s (Avantasia) excellent production.Anyone familiar with previous C.O.P. material will hear in the likes of ‘The Core’ and the relentless Metal of ‘Halo’ how their traditional Brit Metal sound has been imbued with this European character, to great effect.

I liked the band’s previous material, but this “No Place For Heaven” is a completely welcomed beast: C.O.P. UK is Melodic Hard Rock, at places with their old edge, yes, but also with a great, fresh AOR approach.

Elsewhere, the band have subtly taken their foot off the gas just a little, slightly curbing the Metal-edge attack and easing back on Kev Tonge’s predominantly double-bass drum approach. This slight adjustment has enabled the melodies to permeate through their sound and emerge fully to the fore like never before, yet not to the detriment of their dynamics and power.
The pacey, riff-driven Hard Rocker ‘Catch Me If You Can’, the dramatic ‘Take It To The Grave’, the punchy ‘My Blood’, ‘Burn Hell’, and the swirling-keyboard dominated ‘One In A Million’ manage to amalgamate huge sing-along choruses with stunning muscular rhythms, in a very similar style to how Eclipse and Pretty Maids blend melody and power.
The dazzling first single ‘Kiss Of An Angel’ is absolutely brimming with memorable, classy melodies throughout its six minutes of pure Melodic AOR brilliance.

The three, surprisingly tender, ballads signify just how confident C.O.P. are with their new approach, ‘No Man’s Land’ gently building from a subtle beginning into a dynamic power ballad with a soaring chorus, the beautifully constructed ‘Stranger Than Fiction’ a true lighter-waving anthem, while the elegant midtempo title track ‘No Place For Heaven’ works especially well as a duet, performed with German female singer Cloudy Lang (Avantasia).

If you know C.O.P. UK for their previous albums, forget it. If you’re new to them, be prepared for something very good: Melodic Hard Rock with muscle, power AOR and a touch of sweet Melodic Metal.
Varied songwriting, kicking instrumentation and a first class production turns “No Place For Heaven” a terrific album.
I would call it one of the ‘Top debut albums of 2016’, as this C.O.P. UK is a completely ‘new’ band.
Sheer Magnificence.

01 – The Core
02 – My Blood
03 – Kiss Of An Angel
04 – Take It To The Grave
05 – No Place For Heaven
06 – Burn Hell
07 – Halo
08 – Catch Me If You Can
09 – No Man’s Land
10 – One In A Million
11 – Stranger Than Fiction

Dale Radcliffe – vocals
Charles Staton – guitars
Andrew Mewse – guitars
Henning Wanner – keyboards
Scott Jordan – bass
Kevin Tonge – drums

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www.emp.de/art_325114/
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