Rob Rock
Rage of Creation

September 2000
Released: 2000, Independent
Rating: 5.0/5
Reviewer: Rick

Why this guy isn’t a household name in metal is quite beyond me. He has one of the best voices that I have ever heard! And before anyone even asks (I have already been asked this), no this is not Bob Rock who helped destroy Metallica. This is ROB ROCK, former vocalist for Impellitteri and a number of other projects. Rock has some big names helping him on this disc most notably Roy Z who plays guitar, bass, keyboards and also produces and Jake E. Lee (ex-Ozzy and Badlands) who adds some lead guitar. Rob has been around the metal scene since 1986 when he made his recorded debut on the CD M.A.R.S. Project Driver. The group consisted of , shredder Tony MacAlpine on guitar and keyboards, Tommy Aldridge (ex-Ozzy) on drums, Rock on pipes and Rudy Sarzo (ex - Ozzy and Quiet Riot) on bass. Rob then hooked up with another guitar wizard by the name of Chris Impellitteri in 1987 to record Impellitteri’s self titled debut E.P. In 1988 Rock preformed vocals on the Joshua CD Intense Defense and 1989 saw Rock again doing vocal duties on the S/T Angelica CD. Driver saw Rocks first collaboration with Roy Z with the release of their self titled CD in 1990.1991 Rock was off to a new band as he joined Axel Rudi Pell for the CD Nasty Reputation. 1992 saw Rock rejoin Chris Impellitteri for a string of 7 CDs ending in this years great disc Crush. However all was not copasetic in Impellitteri. Rock and Chris Impellitteri parted ways after the release of Crush which leads us to where we are now. The debut solo CD from Rob Rock. Rock is joined on the cd by Roy Z, Jake E. Lee, Reynold "Butch" Carlson (ex - Jag Panzer, Driver) - Drums Gregory Analla (Tribe of Gypsies)- Backing Vocals, Ray Burke - Bass on "All I Need", "In The Night", "Never Too Late".



Now that I got through all that lets get to the music. This disc is 11 songs of real metal. Thats the only way I can describe it. The disc opens with the intro "In the Beginning" which leads right into "The Sun Will Rise Again" which is a great up tempo track which has lots of double bass drums and a vague lingering Maiden feel. Awesome tune. Leads me to think what would have happened to Maiden if Rock had joined instead of Blaze. "Judgement Day" is one of the heaviest tracks on the disc. This song is 6 minutes of great metal. Roy Z plays some great guitar as the middle of the song breaks down and just thrashes on till it again changes pace and finally returns to the original riff and Rock just screams his ass off. Great tune. "Streets of Madness" gallops along and Rock gives one of his best vocal performances on the disc. Probably my favourite song on the CD. "All I Need" showcases a shredder of solo by Jake E. Lee as does "Media Machine" benefit from some killer leads compliments of the former Ozzy guitar slinger. Other standout tracks include the mid paced rocker "In The Night" and "Forever" where Rock just sends his voice into the stratosphere. There is also a cover of an Abba song on the CD. The song is "Eagle" and it is a killer track. Rob has made that song so metal that you can’t find any Abba in it at all!



14 years after Rob Rock started recording we get this, his first debut cd. If this was what he was capable of all along then we have been missing out on some great metal. Roy Z has had a big hand in this CD from song writing to playing to production. His input can not be overlooked. Roy is probably one of the best metal producers on the scene today and he has succeeded in bringing out the best in Rob Rock. Rob has one of the best voices in metal today. Lets hope that he has many more CDs like this in his future. Check out more information about Rob at his website http://www.robrock.com