AMG Review of Shadow Zone

Gary Hill
All Music Guide

This disc starts off feeling a lot like Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here era. However, after the opening instrumental cut is ended, crunchy, high-energy metal becomes the true order of business here. The group manages to take that style, merge it with some of the neo-classical metallic leanings of many modern Euro-metal groups, and infuse it with a more bluesy emotional tone -- to great results. These guys sound just a bit like UFO at times, but really have a sound all their own. They even manage to pull off the fantasy lyrics and semi-symphonic arrangements with dignity and integrity. That's no small feat. The lineup on the album is Axel Rudi Pell, Johnny Gioeli, Mike Terrana, Volker Krawczak, and Ferdy Doernberg.