Michael Schinkel’s ETERNAL FLAME – Smoke On The Mountain (2018)
German combo Michael Schinkel’s ETERNAL FLAME has announced the impending release of the third album “Smoke On The Mountain” set for May 18th via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records.
The album includes 13 tracks and features Mark Boals (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring of Fire) and Göran Edman (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum) on guest vocals, among others.
Mostly known in Germany and the larger European continent, the band has not released an album since 2002. Encouraged by fans, Schinkel began working on a new album some time ago, and the result is “Smoke On The Mountain”.
Schinkel’s style is traditional metal, neo-classical and hard rock, with that classy sound recalling early Yngwie Malmsteen, Rainbow, Axel Rudi Pell, etc. so it’s not strange to see Boals and Edman contributing here.
As a vocalist, Schinkel is a solid singer with a timbre that blends both hard rock and melodic metal voices. Sometimes he can sound passionate and soulful as within the fine ballad, ‘You Can Save Me’, one of the best songs here. As a guitarist, Schinkel works the rhythm very well at the service of the songs, ripping off soaring solos throughout.
Among the best tracks there’s the title track (not a Deep Purple cover) but a full tilt charging metallic song with Mark Boals on vocals. Boals returns on ‘I Believe In This Miracle’, something of an anthem with quick pacing, good groove, and catchy refrain.
Goran Edman appears on ‘Got A Rock & Roll Fever’, essentially a hard rocker with a big beat and sharp riffs. Later, Edman is heard on ‘Tease My Love’, very catchy and reminiscent of his glorious days with Yngwie (and more hair).
‘Whatcha Gonna Do’ delivers hard rock pulse thanks to the catchy riffs, groovin’ rhythm section, memorable refrain, and Schinkel’s fine vocal performance. For something a bit lighter in parts look to ‘Dreaming’, yet plenty of fretboard runs.
On the soulful ‘You Can Save Me’ Schinkel taps into a Gary Moore-ish sort of sound, very classic hard and European, while ‘Queen Of The Hill’ is quite commercial, with some ’80s Purple on it.
Inspired by Blackmore and then Rainbow / Deep Purple, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc, Eternal Flames’ “Smoke On the Mountain” brings back that classic, timeless sound & style.
If you love great catchy classic-style hard rock & melodic traditional metal with stunning lead guitar and vocals, then you will appreciate this album quite a bit. There’s also a great backing band not hidden in the background, who is also immensely talented, and some outstanding guest appearances as well.
This is the kind of album Yngwie should be releasing right now.
Highly Recommended
01 – Ignition (Intro)
02 – Smoke on the Mountain (lead vocals: Mark Boals)
03 – This Is My Life
04 – Queen of the Hill
05 – You Can Save Me
06 – Whatcha Gonna Do
07 – I Believe in This Miracle (lead vocals: Mark Boals)
08 – Got a Rock & Roll Fever (lead vocals: Goran Edman)
09 – Out in the Dark
10 – Dreaming
11 – Take Me There for a Night
12 – Tease My Love (lead vocals: Goran Edman)
13 – Close to the End
Michael Schinkel – vocals, guitar
Helmut Kohlpaintner – keyboards
Thomas Keller – bass
Michael Hencky – drums
Special guests:
Göran Edman – lead vocals (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum)
Mark Boals – lead vocals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring Of Fire)
Ritchie Kelly – guitar (Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum)
Ossy Pfeiffer – keyboards (Ignore The Sign)
Christian Tatsek – keyboards
Robert Lipp – bass
Gerhard Blum – bass
Makeus Grünzer – bass
Andy Dick – drums (Bobby Kimball, Glenn Hughes)
Pre Order:
www.amazon.de/Smoke-Mountain-Michael-SchinkelS-Eternal/dp/B07BQN132H
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