Year : 1997 (Japan Edition)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock , Melodic Heavy Metal , AOR
Country : United Kingdom
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 228 mb
Bio:
Balance of Power was formed in 1995 by keyboardist Ivan Gunn, along with a group of musicians from the London rock scene. One of their first line-ups featured drummer Lionel Hicks, bassist Chris Dale, vocalist Tony Ritchie, and guitarists Bill Yates and Paul Curtis. In October 1996, this line-up started working on their first album titled When the World Falls Down.The album, produced by Hicks and Curtis, was picked up by Pony Canyon Records and released in Japan in 1997 where it was well received.The album was also released by Point Records around Europe.After their first album, lead singer Tony Ritchie was replaced by American Lance King. At the time, founder Ivan Gunn was working some licensing deals with King, who offered himself for the job. Ritchie, however, remained with the band as their main songwriter.In 1998, the band released their second studio album, Book of Secrets. The album also featured new guitarist Pete Southern, who was a childhood friend of Hicks and Ritchie.After their second album, the band returned to the studio to work on the follow-up: Ten More Tales of Grand Illusion. At this time, founder and keyboardist Ivan Gunn left the band to concentrate on work with his record company, Anthem. When Chris Dale left the band, former vocalist and bassist Tony Ritchie rejoined them as bassist.They then released their fourth album, Perfect Balance, in 2001. Chris Beck, of HM magazine called it a "superior album in almost every way" when comparing it to the band's previous efforts. He also said the album "had excellent singing, musicianship and production".In 2003, the band parted ways with singer Lance King after some disagreements. In an interview with HM magazine, King said that "unfortunately we couldn't work together anymore—some business, and some of it personal." Guitarist Pete Southern said in another interview that Lance's departure was "never about music", but attributed it to the "business side" of their relationship.In June 2003, they recruited singer John K, from Biomechanical and released the album Heathen Machine.After a brief tour, John K decided to rejoin Biomechanical full-time. In an interview, John said "I found my self giving Biomechanical less that [sic] 100% and that bothered me a lot... As a musician you have something to say and I think you can easily lose direction by playing in two or three bands. I personally find it disorientating and I would prefer to focus in my band only."The decision was amicable and the band continued to work on other projects.In 2005, the band released their sole compilation album, entitled Heathenology. This package included a DVD with live footage of the band, plus a collection of tracks from previous albums. That spring they also toured with Pink Cream 69 and Axxis.On 6 August of that year, they appeared at the Rock The Nations festival in Istanbul, with ex-Shadowkeep vocalist Rogue Marechal handling vocal duties on a one-off basis.On 20 July 2005, the band announced that their new vocalist would be Corey Brown (formerly of Magnitude 9, Section 16 and Psycho Drama).He began performing live with the band at the end of the summer in Firefest II. Steve Atkinson, of Hard Rock House remarked that, despite being Brown's second performance with the band, "they all looked utterly at ease on the stage. The band cruised their time slot, with a majestic swagger, blending expansive, orchestral keyboards and lightning guitar".After this, the band began working together on the band's sixth album, which was tentatively titled Whispers in the Hurricane, and set for release in 2006.However, the album never surfaced and its members are currently working on other projects.In April 2007, Rogue Marechal reprised his role fronting the band for another one-off concert at the Elements of Rock in Switzerland, before the band went on hiatus again. In early 2018, his Facebook page cryptically hinted at a possible new involvement with the band.
Album:
As far as underrated bands in the metal / hard rock world go, British combo BALANCE OF POWER has to be near the top of the list. At no point have they really received the accolades they deserve, considering the talent and consistency apparent in their work.As requested, here’s the out of print BALANCE OF POWER debut album “When The World Falls Down” in its Japanese edition including a great bonus track.Easily, “When The World Falls Down” is one of the Rock albums appeared in the Nineties. While BALANCE OF POWER later evolved to a more progressive sound, this first LP is a terrific platter of quality 80s influenced commercial melodic hard rock with some AOR waves and melodic metal touches.Harmonies galore, melodic guitars, smooth vocals, keyboard stabs and a pumping energetic flow are the motto of “When The World Falls Down”.Throughout their career, Balance Of Power have always tried to combine two distinct influences. One the one hand, the metal tradition of Rainbow and ’80s Malmsteen. On the other hand, these guys have clearly grown up listening to a lot of AOR and arena rock. The sweet, super-catchy vocal melodies of bands like Journey, Foreigner, Asia and Toto left a definite mark on the impressionable minds of these young British musicians.“When The World Falls Down” is miraculously suspended between these two poles. The songs are anchored in exquisitely guitar riffs and arpeggios that could have been penned by Blackmore or Malmsteen themselves. Given these foundations, you would expect the songs to climax in powerful metallic choruses.Instead, quite brilliantly, Balance of Power bring in these massive AOR choruses that are melodic, light and catchy and that you just did not see coming.While the keyboards are mixed quite heavy, there is no mistaking the solid guitar chops of Bill Yates and Paul Curtis. After a short keyboard intro, things kick off with Against The Odds, a great mid-tempo track. Everything is just coated with a thick layer of 80s influences, with Euro & American stylings all over.The next song, Overnight Sensation, reeks of a single, with it’s stadium-sounding chorus and deliberate pace. Several good rockers follow, including Can’t Close The Book, Something For Your Head, and the title track, all killer.Ballads are scattered throughout, but they don’t necessarily detract from the ambience of this kind of album – these a well elaborated tracks with impressive musicianship.The bonus track for Japan, If Ever, is one of the best cuts and should have been part of the international release, a superb midtempo like a mix between early Journey and Asia.All Balance Of Power albums are very, very good, with the years the band evolving into a more proggy style, but “When The World Falls Down” will especially delight fans of ’80s sounding melodic hard rock / AOR, served with a pristine production polished to the extreme.
Line-Up:
Tony Ritchie – lead and backing vocals - See also: ex-Lady Luck, ex-The Scintilla Project, ex-Gypsy, USM, ex-Snake Eyes, ex-Kid Wicked, ex-Stigma
Paul Curtis – guitar, backing vocals - See also: ex-Lady Luck, ex-Gypsy, ex-Tytus Groan
Bill Yates – guitar, backing vocals
Chris Dale – bass, backing vocals - See also: ex-Monument, ex-Atom Seed, ex-Bruce Dickinson, ex-Tank, ex-Sack Trick
Ivan Gunn – keyboards, backing vocals - See also: ex-Faithealer
Lionel Hicks – drums, percussion - See also: ex-Lady Luck, ex-The Scintilla Project, ex-Vandamne, ex-Gypsy, Kid Wicked, USM
Tracklist:
01. 96.11.28; 14:00
02. Against The Odds
03. Overnight Sensation
04. Can’t Close The Book
05. Hide Your Heart
06. Balance Of Power
07. Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow
08. Something For Your Head
09. When Love Is On Your Side
10. The Real Thing (Carry On Dreaming)
11. These Are The Days
12. Summers Over
13. If Ever (Japan Bonus Track)
+ Video "Against The Odds" (Official Video)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
