My greatest fear has to come to pass…Edguy have become the European Nickelback. I had my worries with their increasing commerciality with songs like “Lavatory Love Machine” and especially “Superheroes” (and don’t get me wrong they are both excellent Edguy songs), but mainstream accessibility began to overshadow their metal hearts. Initial interviews with frontman Tobias Sammett about “Tinnitus Sanctus” led me to believe this record may be a bit more heavier than their last album the L.A. hard rock inspired “Rocket Ride”, but unfortunately, tis not.

Edguy always had big melodic hooks but this is just ridiculous because the music is rather Americanized and modern, light, and the balls have been taken out of the guitars. The first single/video “Ministry of Saints” had my hopes high, the riff is hard and the rhythm is sort a grinding like “King of Fools”. When I received the cd and the record kicked off with said track I was pleased. “Sex Fire Religion” follows and the rhythm patterns not bad, it’s the chorus that falls flat on the floor like oatmeal. “The Pride of Creation” is misleading, you think its back to that galloping Euro Helloween sound (and believe me I don’t expect Edguy to write that same type of song over and over) as it starts with the twin guitar leads and quick drum beat but that drops out to lots of those big 80s hair metal backing vocals. The chorus is catchy I gotta admit but from here on its all downhill.

“Nine Lives” uses some accompanying keys behind the guitar riffs and opens very nicely but the chorus reminded me of “Have A Nice Day” (a good Bon Jovi tune) because the guitars lose their edge. There is this cleaner thinned out guitar sound I am hearing throughout the album. The more metal guitars do return before the solo but for me its too little too late.

And speaking of Bon Jovi, “Aren’t You A Little Pervert” is such a rip off of the excellent camp fire jam “Love for Sale” from the Jersey boys gem “New Jersey”. “Wake of Dreaming” and “Dragonfly” is really where you hear the Nickelback influence during the verses as those damn guitars just keep dropping out. Maybe Edguy needs better guitar straps??

“Thorn Without a Rose” is your ballad. Even more commercial is “9-2-9” with its diluted riffs washed away by the keyboards. The Queen influence has always been a part of Edguy’s arrangements in their vocal harmonies but for “Speedhoven” stark opening with those group vocals its too much. “Dead or Rock” is pretty good, easily is the song Hurricane or XYZ never recorded.

Look… I like Edguy alot. I love a great hook but I expect more balls from these guys and think this time around they really have lost em. I went back and listened to the crunchy heavy riffs and hammering rhythm sections that carry “Tears of the Mandrake”, “The Pharaoh”, the driving fist pounding “Nailed to the Wheel” and “Mysteria” and I can tell you that side of Edguy is surely missed. What happened guys??