Since the band's last studio album 'Cats & Dogs' the members of Talisman have been far from idle with Marcel Jacobs and Jamie Borger popping up on this year's rather good new album by Last Autumn's Dream (Borger is also involved in the Treat reunion), guitarist Fredrik Akesson has been touring with Arch Enemy and of course Jeff Scott Soto is currently filling in for Steve Augeri as Journey's vocalist plus being part of Soul SirkUS. With all of this activity it is amazing they found time to record this album!

Musically it carries on from where 'Cats & Dogs' left off with possibly a heavier edge overall particularly in the guitars, grab a listen to openers 'Falling' and 'Nowhere Fast' for proof. There are some tracks on here that are instant hits with your ears like 'Shed A Tear Goodbye' and 'Back 2 The Feeling', which sees the band almost in pop rock territory.

Elsewhere there is a ballad and a couple of tunes take the funk rock groove that JSS does more on in his solo work. JSS sings his best as usual although his little 'raps' in a couple of tunes can get tiresome after repeated listens.

Certainly this album will delight fans of the band but it is a couple of songs short of being as strong as JSS last solo album or the last Talisman album. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

***** Out of this world | **** Pretty damn fine |
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan |
** Instant bargain bin fodder | * Ugly. Just ugly