EDGUY – Tinnitus Sanctus

They have been called many things, from Clown-Metal to Kids-Rock, sometimes even corny or embarrassing. Nothing the music industry threw at them has been able to stop them, or even slow them down, nor did they falter and deviate from their path. So it is the most important thing to say about Tinnitus Sanctus that Edguy are true to themselves once again. Which means that they will again be called silly, and in return will acknowledge that with a well aimed silly joke from front jester Tobias Sammet hitting well below the belt.

Also, there have been no changes in line up. The band is a constant in the industry and has suffered no changes of musicians for over ten years. That is surely also one of the reasons why Edguy managed, with each release, to better the predecessor… album after album until the band’s creativity culminated in 2006’s Rocket Ride. In comparison, Tinnitus Sanctus, a title which transports the band’s sense of humor adequately, already has one big advantage: the cover is definitely less embarrassing. Rocket Ride was an album which saw eye to eye with the infamous Smell The Glove from British superstars Spinal Tap when it came to the artwork – but took second place to Spinal Tap where the solution is concerned.

The album starts with a mid-tempo traditional Metal song called “Ministry Of Saints”, a down to earth track with a memorable chorus. Definitely great Edguy stuff! It continues with “Sex Fire Religion” which in spite of certainly being a monster track on stage is a bit too plain and the chorus sung just too often. At this point the listener has the nagging feeling that something is missing… and just then “The Pride Of Creation” delivers the missing link to the early albums… an up-tempo song. Or at least a section, because there is no real speed song on Tinnitus Sanctus. Just like on Rocket Ride, there are several songs that have a speedy section, double bass, lots of power, but there is no single straight Speed Metal song. “Speedhoven” almost qualifies but has a slower mid section as well. That may be a disappointment to some, but the band never stood still but instead had little differences between each album, and that is the most striking difference to their earlier works. That is also what changes the character of the band on this new album.

It seems Edguy have matured. A typical development among Metal bands, the impetuosity of youth has given in to better songwriting overall, but changed the style away from Helloween-influences to more traditional Metal, maybe like Accept or Squealer. Or Judas Priest. It is difficult to put one’s finger on it, as it is without a doubt foremost all Edguy.

There are many highlights on the album, so let’s rather look at the downside: “9-2-9” and “Dead Or Rock” are as simple and straight forward as the already mentioned “Sex Fire Religion” and become tedious after some time, and “Thorn Without A Rose” is the almost-A-ballad which is as heavy as a Foreigner tune. Also, there is the funny and definitely silly “Aren’t You A Little Pervert, Too” with the memorable opening speech: “This is for our troops beating the shit out of those people… and their families!” which will divide the audience.

After doing the math that means seven great songs with the epical “Dragonfly”, the Edguy-typical “Speedhoven” and the meaty “Ministry Of Saints” and “Nine Lives” being the highlights, and that results in a good album for fans of the band with solid Metal and great melodies, all embedded in a good production done by Sascha Paeth. There are hardly any surprises here, but what we all want is another great Edguy album, and no unwelcome changes, right? Well, in that regard the Fulda five delivered once again.