Customer Reviews

Wicked Maiden

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Shawn Lane Who? Dragonforce? I don't know if it is intentional, but it sounds like Chris Impellitteri set out to settle the debate on who the fastest guitar player is. He shreds on this album like never before, & I mean good shred that says something meaningful musically. Some of the other guys sound like they just throw practicing scales as fast as they can into their music. Chris is an exceptional, way underrated guitarist & song writer. I love this album. The tone is the best Impellitteri has ever achieved. I wanna say it's their best album, but I personally think that goes to "Pedal to the Metal". This IS the best Rob Rock Impellitteri album. Don't miss out on an incredible album.

First off, I am a huge Rob Rock fan, and the combination of Chris Impellitteri and Rob Rock has always been a killer combination for me.I only have the Impellitteri albums that has Rob Rock on vocals, so I will compare this album to Crunch.I think with all the anticipation and waiting for this album, I expected a little bit more.Although after giving this cd a 3rd and 4th listen, I am starting to enjoy it more and more.
This is not a bad cd, I think Crunch is a little bit better.There is nothing new here, fast guitar riffing, soaring vocals.If you are a die hard Impellitteri fan, and you enjoy Rob Rock on vocals, then I suggest getting this cd.

a great album with rob rock back makes this worth this import price. While it blows away his last effort 'pedal to the metal' , it does not top 'eye of the hurricane'.

The music is really good, with perfect harmonic circles in the melodies and flawless singing. The production is huge (maybe the best Impellitteri production album up to date!)...It is a really good album...of course, nothing from this guy will ever please Malmsteen fans. Although I like both guitarist, this album is better than Yngwie's Perpetual Flame.

9th studio album from Chris impellitteri after a three year absence from the scene. This album marks the 2nd comeback of original vocalist Rob Rock to the ranks having been replaced twice by Graham Bonnet and more recently by Custis Skelton.

According to interview Chris consciously took this time period to prepare for the recording of Wicked Maiden composition and performance wise. The result is outstanding; this could as well be considered the best "Impellitteri" album to date. Why? Simply because Chris and co manage to combine in perfect harmony furious riffs and extremely technical rhythm parts with the catchiest of choruses and vocal lines.
Rob puts on a fantastic as always vocal performance with all the drama and aggression we have come to expect from the man. Glenn Sobel and James Pulli are a well tested, faultless rhythm section, yet inevitably the "master" steals the show; It may sound impossible but it seems that Chris has become an even better (and faster!!) player than before. The guy manages to fit lead guitar parts during the split second that intervenes from one rhythm guitar part to the other.

"Wicked maiden" features superior power tracks such as "Last of a dying breed" , "Garden of Eden" and the devastating "Weapon of Mass destruction". Yet the album also revisits in a way Impellitteri's more commercial glam image of the 80s with tracks such as "Vision" and "Eyes of an angel".

It would be fair to say that "Wicked Maiden" manages to gather everything that is great about this band and its guitar prodigy. The best has become even better and that alone makes this work a source of inspiration for the listener.

"Power Play" UK magazine (issue 109) marks this album with 9/10 commenting: "A power metal explosion... Album of 2009? A very, very promising contender"

"Classic Rock" UK magazine (issue 132) comments on the album: "Wicked Maiden is an album to add to the shopping list"

The reunion album for Chris Impellitteri with Rob Rock is well worth the import price. I had to buy this after hearing the title track on the band's Myspace page, which floored me. Incredible guitar from Chris Impellitteri. Rob Rock sounds even better than usual (there's some stuff here that even puts "in his prime" Halford to shame). Only dud is Hi-Scool Revolution (kind of a hair metal vibe but maybe that's just me), every other track is great. Lots of Christian lyrics, so be advised. Even if you aren't Christian, as long as you enjoy great music and are open minded this is a great album.

Wicked maiden is a return to form for Impelliterri. Previous offerings have tailed off away from the catchy riffs and melody that made this band awesome.

This CD sees Rob Rock back on vocals, which is a blessing, as I view Impelliterri sound linked with Robs vocals. Some of their best productions came with Rob on vocals. Screaming symphony and answer to the master.

this CD returns to those two discs musically. IMO is their best since those two. They have carved a harder sound with the addition of some keyboard to enhance the music. Of course, I am a fan of bands that don't change alot musically in order to get in synch with the times or grow as a band. I am of the midset that dance with the one who brung ya.

After a few CD's that IMO didn't fly real well, Impeliterri has gone back to what made them! This CD isn't their best, but it rocks and has some real solid music on it. certianly worth a listen!! Bravo impelliterri

Chris Impellitteri has been around a long time yet always seems to be relegated to the shadow of Malmsteen. If you search back through each catalog I would say that Imp has been the more consistent of the two and doesn't have the albums that seem to be more about showing off then quality music. Here he's back with Rob Rock at the vocal helm to give us another high quality outing of their brand of power/classical metal. Unlike the last album, which had more downtuned guitars, Imp is back to his more usual tunings and the speed mixed with catchiness are in full effect. After the career Rob and Chris have had it's really too bad he's not more known in the states but I guess there's always Japan.

Who cares if its christen music or not this is a rocking album and it written better and plated better than other albums .It disturbs me when records companies let bands like nickle back degrade woman ,but push them like crazy ,and heres a cd with great lyrics no cussing and a relious theme ,yet they fly under the radar.After the garden of eaden this album takes off to one of impellitteri greastest cd from eyesof a angel ,high school revolution ,tothe battle rages on this is a rocking cd,buy it iam sure you wont be dissapointed I hope this review was helpfull to you

Listened to multiple times prior to this review.

This album is an odd sounding combination of previously harmonious musicians. Some albums just do not flow; this is one of them. Early Impellitteri works with R. Rock and C. Impell. (e.g., Answer to the Master; Crunch; etc.) did mix well; the lyrics reflected an honest and successful struggle to meld hard music (power metal) with lyrics reflecting real issues that transcend the grave. R. Rock has rightly moved past his Impellitteri past (and joined with Roy Z.) seeking to follow Jesus and express himself with the gifts that he has received from Someone beyond himself. His post Impellitteri independent albums as well as his recent Driver ("Sons of Thunder") album are examples of fine music with lyrics that thoughtfully blend with skillful instrumentation aimed at a largely irreligious audience. This newest Impellitteri production seems forced, with two wavelengths that never connect. C. Impellitteri's music is excellent, but at times is pregressive/experimental, with odd and grating shifts in beat that differ from usual melodic power metal. Would fans of Van Halen appreciate an album in a progressive style similar to Dream Theater? Hardly. And the lyrics. . . . What to say? Most seem written on the fly, without the depth of eternal thought that recent Rock lyrics portray. High school angst; waiting for the bell to ring to move to "coming attractions". . . . And the one song that us religionists would drool over in anticipation (Holy Man = Jesus) features poor music, unharmoniously composed. Come on, Impellitteri; you know how to produce power metal that is melodic! We're paying money for your product. Deliver!

Unfortunately this is one of those albums that I'll need to listen to over and over and over and hope that the sound eventually becomes attractive.