Showing no signs of slowing down whatsoever, Rob Rock's latest platter of heavy metal once again astounds and satisfies. The raw crunch is definitely there and as good as ever, but this time the golden-throated belter infuses more melody and variation in his work. It's a pleasing evolution from 'Holy Hell,' and something that is safe to view as a good thing. As we've learned from Primal Fear, the exact same thing over and over, no matter how talented, does eventually get old.
A more gritty sound recalls classic heavy metal, yet the production is perfect as always. It's an attained texture that Rob indeed uses very well, beginning with the attention-grabbing title track and continuing through the driving, double bass-wrought "Millenial Reign". The last two tracks are a couple of anti-climactic ballads that you may or may not wish to skip. Closing with a bang, apparently, is not a consideration this time around. If ending on a slow song is what you're looking for, the 2007 Nightwish album does that very well...
"Satan's Playground" features slinging guitarwork with heaviness and underlying square riffs, while bursts of tight drumwork keeps your attention during "Spirit in the Sky". Once again, nothing boring takes place with the riffwork. Even the more midpaced offerings such as "Savior's Call" and "Only A Matter Of Time" are enhanced with metal-flavored details that make a slower tempo seem deceptively more aggressive. Songwriting is of course excellent, and the choruses will etch themselves on your brain.
This man is one of the hardest-working and yet most underappreciated in the business. He has not put one foot wrong since the very beginning of his career, and is surrounded these days in the studio with some very talented musicians. One can only hope that with four increasingly solid and desirable solo releases he finally will get the recognition he has deserved for so long.

TRACK LIST:
1. Garden Of Chaos
2. Satan's Playground
3. Savior's Call
4. This Time Is The Last Time
5. Only A Matter Of Time
6. Spirit In The Sky
7. Metal Breed
8. Millenial Reign
9. Unconditional
10. Ode To Alexander

Review by Erik Langerak