Customer Reviews

Gift of Life

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It's interesting how many metal guitarists secretly yearn to play 80's style melodic rock. Former Mercyful Fate guitarist Hank Shermann started the trend when he launched Fate in the early 80's and since then we've seen Milennium (featuring former Death axeman Ralph Santolla), Brother Firetribe (featuring Nightwish's Emppu Vuorinen) and now The Trophy. The Trophy was put together by Todd Wolf, who made a name for himself in the power metal band Human Fortress. In this endeavor, Wolf is joined by no less a vocal presence than former Jaded Heart frontman Michael Bormann.

The Gift of Life is The Trophy's debut album, and it's a winner. Human Fortress might be a second-tier power metal band, but The Trophy is first class melodic rock all the way. Wolf has put together eleven songs that draw from the traditional melodic rock sound (think Journey, Foreigner, et al) and incorporate a lot of technological tricks (loops, effects, etc.) and a production job worthy of Harem Scarem or Pink Cream 69. The result is an album that is both classical and thoroughly modern. It's heavy at times and is highly melodic.

Wolf's guitar work is incredible (his down-tuned riffs stand out as much as his solos), and Marco Grasshof's keyboards add plenty of atmosphere and energy. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Michael Bormann delivers what may be the finest performance of his career on this album. Emotion, power, and pure rock energy - Bormann totally delivers the goods. If you're not already a Bormann fan, The Gift of Life will make you one.

The Gift of Life is a very impressive album, and really doesn't have any weak tracks. If you're looking for a couple of singles to try, "Can't Get Out of My Head" and "Rescue Me" stand out, and should be enough to convince you of The Trophy's merits. If you enjoy any kind of melodic rock - at all - you simply must check out the Trophy.

"The Trophy" is the new hard rock project of lead singer Michael Bormann (ex- "Jaded Heart") and guitarist Todd Wolf ("Human Fortress"). Although the latter has positioned himself within the heavy/power metal genre, with "The Trophy", Wolf explores a less aggressive and far catchier sound which is undeniably hard rock borrowing modern metal elements.

"The Trophy" does not feature any principal differences when compared to Bormann's previous hard rock/melodic rock works, simply the guitars here are much heavier, concentrating more on riffs than on melodies or solos. Although the majority of the album is composed solely by Dodd while Bormann entered the project much later, `The Trophy' has the singer's personality all over its 11 tracks. And generally speaking, when fans hear a Bormann-chorus they know it's unmistakably him; this suggests that despite the elements of heaviness and modernity, if you have dug into Michael's recording catalogue you already have a good idea what this album sounds like.

Overall I have to say I am very happy with the up front guitars and riffness of the project, yet I expected more extensive guitar solos and flamboyant lead guitar work. Never the less, this is a minor detail when looking at the heart of the mater, which is the relevant musical material that `The Trophy' offers us. Favorite tracks include the super positive `Get the cup', the stylish title track and the AOR-ish 'When Nightmares Wake Me Up'

Finally `The Trophy' is an obvious and very safe choice for fans of `Jaded Heart' and Michael Bormann. If you have enjoyed the singer's previous works it's almost impossible to be let down by "The trophy".