The phrase ‘close but no cigar’ seems to be apt with Ten, good ideas mostly, but unable to convince when it comes to delivering the goods.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Ten
ALBUM: Gothica
LABEL: Frontiers
SERIAL: FRCD 802
YEAR: 2017
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England
LINEUP: Gary Hughes – vocals * Dann Rosingana, Steve Grocott, John Halliwell – guitars * Darrel Treece-Birch – keyboards * Steve McKenna – bass * Max Yates – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 The Grail * 02 Jekyll And Hyde * 03 Travellers * 04 Man For All Seasons * 05 In My Dreams * 06 The Wild King Of Winter * 07 Paragon * 08 Welcome To The Freak Show * 09 La Luna Dra-cu-la * 10 Into Darkness * 11 Paragon (Bonus Mix)
RATING: 60/100
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
I must be a sucker for punishment. Time and time again, I keep coming back to this lot, reviewing their albums and hoping to be witness to the next great coming of melodic rock. The phrase ‘close but no cigar’ seems to be apt with them. Good ideas mostly, but unable to convince when it comes to delivering the goods.
After a few years on the Rocktopia label, the band return to Frontiers, hoping for their next big break. Admittedly, ‘Gothica’ sounds a lot more convincing than recent efforts ‘Albion’ and ‘Isla De Muerta’, but the whole fantasy realm is kinda done to death don’t you think? Then again, I doubt they could sing/write/play about any other subject matter. It’s like they are caught in a spiral without a way out.
The Songs
Ten play a pleasant brand of melodic rock, but it’s just not nasty enough for my liking considering the subject matter. Really, with three guitarists, Ten should at least have one of these blokes sounding like he’s playing a chainsaw, not a fairy wand of candy floss. Gary Hughes should do a solo AOR CD rather than this fare to which he’s much better suited.
In Summary
Overall, ‘Gothica’ is a good but not great album from Ten, it’s a little too inoffensive and squeaky clean. A bit of dirt and grit would not go amiss for a band that promotes much but delivers little in return.
Ten on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
