Still Remains - 'Of Love And Lunacy' (Roadrunner) Released 02/05/05

Opening with ‘To Live And Die By Fire’ Still Remains set a high standard for their album. This number showers you with all the ingredients for a metal feast, the axes and vocals that embed themselves in your head can easily hold their own, but it’s the use of keyboards that makes all the difference.

‘White Walls’ is much the same in type, only better in sound. The guitars and keyboard work brilliantly around a terrifying bombardment of drums that reign down upon the senses. When this one takes a twist into a spine chilling sound courtesy of ‘catch you by surprise’ keyboards, it can only be described as inspired, to be able to make such a sound work calls for great musicianship.

‘Cherished’ on the other hand promises much but falls prey to a formulaic sound and it is a pity as this band has so much to offer; although the change of pace in this song is well done, but lacks in dramatics. And ‘With What You Have’ there’s a sound reminiscent of Elton John’s ‘Funeral For A Friend’- this is one of those numbers that lasts long enough for you to think ‘what the f**k is that doing here?!’.  Thankfully ‘Kelsey’ plunges back into the realm of rock reality and metal mania. From here on it’s all good again until you hit ‘Stare And Wonder’; musically good, but the vocals should have been left to ‘slash n’ scream’ along with the interludes of melodic meddling which really are not needed.

Ever wondered what the dark side of your loved one looks like? ‘Blossom, The Witch’ gives you a glimpse into what might be there. Atmospheric, harsh and head banging this is a number that’s of the quality to make you go ‘hell yeah! I want more of that!’

Still Remains will leave a trail of wannabe’s all scratching for a keyboard player to add to their band’s sound. The commitment to their music that’s burned into this album makes Still Remains a gotta see, gotta hear band.