Dennis Ward is one of the busiest men in melodic rock. Apart from being a founding member of German rockers Pink Cream 69, he’s played with Sunstorm, Unisonic, Place Vendome, and most recently, Magnum. He’s also produced hundreds of bands over the years. Somewhere in between all of this work, he finds time to put out music with Khymera. Formed in 2003 and originally fronted by ex-Kansas singer Steve Walsh, Khymera is a studio project spearheaded by Frontiers Records. It’s hardly a surprise its been five years since the last Khymera album. Taking Ward’s schedule into account, it’s a miracle Master of Illusions was even made.
Master begins with “Walk Away”: A big, catchy opener complimented by a memorable singalong chorus. It sounds like it could’ve been off my favorite Journey album, Frontiers (1983). The Frontiers aesthetic continues into the next track, “The First Time”. Songs like these make me feel nostalgic for the 80s despite having not been born until 1999. My other favorite tracks are “The Sun Goes Down” and the amazing closer, “Just Let it Happen”. Both of these songs see Khymera departing their AOR comfort zone for slightly heavier riffing. I wouldn’t call it melodic metal. At its core, these songs are AOR, but they’re a pleasant departure from what I expected.
Throughout the entire album, the Journey influence is apparent. The majority of Master is upbeat, sometimes to the point of overkill. Examples include the title track, “Follow the Sun”, and “After All This Time”. I have a high cheese tolerance, but even I had a hard time getting through “After All This Time”. It sounds like it was commissioned for a Target commercial. While the zealous happiness of Master turns me off a bit, I understand the appeal. If you love the Journey songs “Only the Young” and “Be Good to Yourself”, you’ll probably love all of the songs I listed. It should also be noted that unlike most of today’s AOR outings, this isn’t a purely retro affair. Many songs sound like they owe as much to modern rock as they do the 80s. “Paradise” instantly comes to mind. This would explain why it’s my least favorite track next to “After All This Time”. Again, there’s plenty of people who won’t mind this. It’s just a style and sound I don’t care for.
Master has some solid songs, but does little for me in the grand scheme of things. Many of these songs sound like what Ward would’ve written had he stayed with Sunstorm. I can’t help but imagine what this album would sound like with Joe Lynn Turner’s vocals. Ward’s talent is immeasurable. The players backing him are top notch. I just expected a bit more in the songwriting department. Maybe in five years, we’ll have a new Khymera album centered on the melodic metal sound teased on here. One can dream.
6 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: AOR
For fans of: Journey, Sunstorm, John Parr