Frontiers Records concocts supergroups and all-star pairings at such a rapid rate that it’s easy for some to fly beneath the radar. Case in point, Long Shadows Dawn. Upon further investigation, I learned that Long Shadows Dawn is a new collaboration between veteran metal singer Doogie White and Swedish guitarist Emil Norberg. Having spent the past 30 years singing with the likes of Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker Group, and most recently Alcatrazz, White is one of the most accomplished voices in hard and heavy music. I always try to check out anything he’s involved with, if only for his voice alone.
If you’re somehow unfamiliar with White, the best way I can describe his voice is an amalgamation of Ian Gillan’s grit and Ronnie James Dio’s range. It’s no wonder Ritchie Blackmore enlisted him to sing on Rainbow’s exceptional comeback album, Stranger in Us All (1995). This is something that has stuck with White throughout his entire career. When he embarks upon his own solo conquests or side projects, there’s always a tinge of Purple, if you catch my drift. However, when it comes to Long Shadows Dawn’s debut album, Isle of Wrath, Purple isn’t the only “P” word that comes to mind. The other two are “pedestrian” and “predictable”.
As a diehard Deep Purple and Rainbow fan, I’m usually a sucker for any release having any slight connection to either band. This was the case for Isle of Wrath‘s first few songs. “Deal with the Preacher” kicks things off in full throttle fashion, boasting the aggressive riffing, neoclassical soloing, gripping organs, and leather lunged vocals associated with classic Purple and Rainbow. “Raging Silence” showcases a melodramatic arrangement characteristic of Yngwie Malmsteen’s commercial era circa Odyssey and Eclipse, while “Star Rider” combines those elements with the Purple-ness of the opening track.
This album didn’t start to lose me until the halfway mark. “Master of Illusion” is yet another high speed headbanger in the vein of “Deal with the Preacher”, as is “Steeltown” which only comes a couple tracks later. From there onwards, Isle of Wrath becomes a generic old school metal outing, even down to the obligatory ballad (“Never Wrote a Love Song”) which I wouldn’t be surprised is a Frontiers contractual requirement. The performances aren’t bad. White sings up a storm and this Norberg fellow can channel the finest moments of Blackmore into his playing. What holds this album back is lackluster songwriting and a thin production (the bass is all but absent).
Assuming Long Shadows Dawn amounts to more than a one off, I hope they focus less sounding like a Purple/Rainbow clone and more on carving their own identity. There’s a brief moment when they do this on my choice cut, “Where Will You Run To”: A nostalgic 80s AOR anthem with memorable melodies and lyrics. Perhaps this could be the direction for album #2.
5 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
For fans of: Rainbow, Deep Purple, Alcatrazz