LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Concerto Moon
built 656 days ago
After the band was founded in Autumn 1995, Concerto Moon held their first concert in Osaka in July 1996. Two weeks later they caused a sensation at their very first show in Tokyo. In the following summer the band released their debut album Fragments Of The Moon, which received an impressive 85 point rating in the revered Burrn! Magazine. The album release was followed by a successful Japanese tour and April 1998 saw them preparing for their second album,
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Now joining top metal acts such as Shadowkeep, Adagio, Rhapsody and Concerto Moon on German-based Limb Music, from the first notes of their second disc, it is clear that this is a band that has improved tremendously on every level. Whatever loose ends there were on the debut have been firmly put into place this time around.
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After The Double Cross is probably Concerto Moon's most consistent album to date. The song writing is now at a standard where the quality is sustained for a whole album, and this shows where the band has really progressed. Earlier albums have always shown glimpses of what the band can achieve but the continuity was only there for 75% of an album. This new found focus and overall improvement in production and delivery means this album is of a very high standard indeed. As previously mentioned the vocal work of Inoue do get a little incomprehensible at times, yet this does not really detract as the melodies are strong. Norifumi Shima once again comes out as the overall star and deservedly so - he is an unsung guitar master.
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Daran wird der aktuelle Longplayer "Rain Forest" von CONCERTO MOON wohl auch nichts daran ändern. Fakt ist aber, das die Band ein Feuerwerk von insgesamt 14 Tracks (davon 3 Bonustracks) an melodiösen, mit gelegentlichen Prog-Elementen versehenen Power Metal abbrennen. Tracks wie der rasante Opener "Time To Die", das treibende "Unstill Night" oder die beiden, in japanischen Vocals vorgetragenen "Lonely Last Journey" und "Live On The Memory" präsentieren eine Band, die es trotz des technischen hohen Standards versteht, eingängige Songs ohne großen Schnickschnack zu schreiben.
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Concerto Moon (the track) closes the album and its another up-tempo metallic affair. There is still a strong dose of melody within the riffery thanks to Koike's keyboard work. A strong chorus is guaranteed to make this an encore ending live favourite for years to come. However the classical melody from Shima to introduce his blistering guitar solo is ... worthy of praise. Overall another strong track to the close the album.
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