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Artist: Gary John Barden
Album: The Agony And Xtasy
Year: 2006 (Escape Music)
Style: Hard Rock
Time: 00:43:54
Bitrate: FLAC (tracks +.cue +.log)
Covers: JPG, full scans

Produced by Michael Voss
Guest musicians:
Michael Schenker (lead guitars on "Let Me Down")
Steve Morris (lead guitars on "Arise")
Bertram Engel (drums)
Tommy Denander (lead guitars on "Need Of Some Love")
Martin Huch (lapsteel guitar on "No more reasons")
Michael Voss (all guitars, some bvox, few Hammond)
Axel Kruse (drums on "Need Of Some Love")
Barend Courbois (bass on "Arise")
Matthias Rethmann (bass on "Need Of Some Love")

Gary Barden is well-known for his work with MSG, Praying Mantis, Statetrooper, Silver and lately also recorded soloalbums.
In 2004 he released "Past And Present" with MSG covers in different versions that was a nice album indeed. Now he's back together with his long time friend Michael Voss (Casanova, Bonfire) that has produced, written songs and played on the album.
Gary has gone back to his roots with this new album and delivers bluesy hardrock/rock with lots of Hammond sound in it,he has got some help from a couple of friends such as Michael Schenker that plays lead-guitar on a song, Tommy Denander shows his bluesy talent, Axel Kruse (Jaded Heart) and Steve Morris (Heartland, Shadowman) are some of the contributors.
The line-up on this album is very impressive but they don't manage to lift this album up to any higher grounds I'm afraid,there are couple of nice rockers but in the long run many of the songs don't have the right touch and are out of passion.

The opening rocker "Hot Daze" is a very good opening song with great melodies, riffs and a strong chorus. But after that the album goes down the drain and the songs are just average or weak.
At the end of the album,"Arise" made me lift my eyebrows because this is a really good song where Mr. Voss sings in the pre-chorus and the chorus is very melodic with strong melodies.
Too bad that the album don't have more songs in the style of Hot Daze and Arise. The album is very well-played and produced and if you're a fan of Gary Barden - I suggest you listen to this album first. This is British hardrock with blues in the bottom that never takes off.
(Melodic.net)

1. Hot Daze
2. Can't Stop Dreaming
3. Stop (What'cha Doing To Me)
4. Let Me Down
5. Wounded
6. No More Reasons
7. In & Out Of Love
8. Arise
9. Change Of Wind
10. Need Of Some Love