WONDERWORLD – III (2018)
At the end of last year Norwegian / Italian trio WONDERWORLD started recording their 3rd album, simply to be called “III” – following the numeric theme of the previous releases I and II featured here on the blog.
Formed by the permanent backing band for Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep), the trio consist of Italian shouter Roberto Tiranti (Labyrinth) and Norwegians Ken Ingwersen (Street Legal) / Tom Fossheim (Live Fire).
Wonderworld’s sound could be best described as traditional hard rock / classic rock. The heaviness comes from the combination of strong assertive riffs with a deep and powerful rhythm section. Yet these are quickly wrapped up in melody and harmony derived from the same guitar lines, but also Tiranti’s vocal arrangements.
Ingwersen fills each song with varied and elaborated guitar solos as the bass and drums keep the groove going.
Sometimes, with songs such as ‘A Mountain Left To Climb’ and ‘Brand New Man’, it sounds like Wonderworld is working a bluesy groove into the tunes. Alternatively, with ‘Rebellion’ you get something of psychedelic funk feeling in the rhythm. Yet, at the mid point the song features a calm smooth guitar solo almost akin to Carlos Santana guitar line.
With ‘The Last Frontier’, something of a ballad, you get a slow moving song with light guitar and voice at the center. But eventually, the vocal layer gives way for the smooth guitar line to continue and then rise to a sharp solo.
Songs like ‘Stormy Night’ add an interesting little progressive touch akin Rush, then ‘Big Word’ is another song plenty of catchiness with a busy bass work and guitar bringing to mind The Winery Dogs, and the chorus is almost melodic hard rock.
For something straight forward heavy and steady, there’s the tough break up song, ‘Stay Away From Me’. With the up beat groove of ‘There Must Be More’, Wonderworld tunes into a catchy AOR, especially heard in the chorus.
Wonderworld gets better and better with each album. “Wonderworld III” should be their most complete album, varied in style yet really cohesive.
An album full of inspired guitar work, strong vocal performances thanks from the very talented Roberto Tiranti, great arrangements and, essentially, good songs.
They don’t make records like this anymore. Fans of Winery Dogs, Badlands, Ray Gillen, some vintage Whitesnake and even Mr. Big need to check these guys.
Highly Recommended
01 – Background Noises
02 – Stormy Night
03 – Big Word
04 – Crying out for Freedom
05 – A Mountain Left to Climb
06 – Brand New Man
07 – Rebellion
08 – The Last Frontier
09 – Stay Away from Me
10 – There Must Be More
Roberto Tiranti – Vocals, Bass
Ken Ingwersen – Guitars
Tom Fossheim – Drums
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