RADAKKA - MALICE AND TRANQUILITY - 1995

This album is just amazing, for several very important reasons. First and foremost, it is spectacular music. Innovative songwriting, superb musicianship, great vocals. Next is the part that is truly a mystery to me--it's import-only. Why is it that the U.S. continues to follow trends and release crap, while real metal like this is only available overseas? Oh well. We set the "trends", we follow the "trends." On to the music...
Radakka reminds me of a lot of bands, but in the end have a sound very much their own. They have the harmonies of older Dokken, but the aggressiveness of Lynch Mob material. They also mix subtle qualities of Dream Theater, Lillian Axe, and older Queensryche. So what does all of this add up to? A very energetic, refreshing, yet cutting-edge, state-of-the-art metal experience. While reminding of each of the above bands, Radakka is at the same time more of a power-metal unit; their sound is heavier and "tougher" somehow. There's no glam here.
Radakka set themselves apart from the pack with their inventive songwriting patterns. Rarely do they follow the "standard formula" for a rock song; instead, they change tempos, add riffs where you wouldn't expect them, and overall give a wide range of sounds on the disc. At the same time, the changes are not overdone--the album holds one's attention very well. An excellent, excellent album, which can be purchased directly from Century Media (see links page) or from various import services (Dream Disc being my fave).
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