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Titanic: Screaming In Silence (Collector's Edition) Heavy Metal Retroactive Records 2002
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Review
After a rather unimpressive debut album, the Nevada-based Christian Heavy metal outfit Titanic return with their second full-length effort, Screaming In Silence. While the production quality on this album has definately improved, there is not as much of a dramatic change in the music as far as the band's performance goes. However, what is found on Screaming In Silence is definately a step forward for this group. Screaming In Silence is a much more solid effort then their debut album. While the band's mid-paced music continues on this release, as well as the first track "The Band Plays On" feeling as if it were some sort of omitted track from the group's debut album, Maiden Voyage, it gives mixed emotions as soon as the album spins. The increase in production quality for this release really helps the material out on here, especially with the tracks like "See Through My Eyes" where the guitars really seem to be lower and more powerful, and the guitar solos here seem to fit in better as far as the sound goes. Another improvement on the release, and perhaps the most pleasant change outside the production quality, is the vocals, which sound more confident and matured then before. The only problem? It seems as if he is holding back, as if he could hit higher notes, or sound stronger, but simply doesn't. While this release is a huge improvement with more variety then their first outing, there's still nothing all that special about it. Given that it has been roughly six years between releases, one would expect a little more fromt he band, but sadly much of the material on here is still at that slower chugging pace that only is highlighted now by the guitar solos and vocals. "Time", "As I Am", and especially "Broken Toys" thanks to the really fast spoken vocals that border rap and clash horribly with the music really could have been better, and tracks like "Carnival of Souls" really show the band's potential, as well as with "Questions". COLLECTOR'S EDITION: Much like the Collector's Edition of Maiden Voyage, this recording has been remastered, as well as remixed and includes re-recorded drums by Stryper member Robert Sweet. Thanks to this, the overall quality of the album sounds much better. This release also does feature some new artwork that just looks better and more professional. The problem with this one is that three tracks have been omitted from the original 2002 pressing. "Ocean of Blood", "Gods of War" and "Hollywood Blvd." featured original drum work by Robert Sweet as well, but are not present here. The only way to get these tracks now would be to pick up Maiden Voyage, which has these tracks already remixed, remastered, and with his drum tracks re-recorded. It's confusing, yes, but fans of Titanic will not be swayed from buying this release due to this issue. Titanic have never sounded better then on this release, and it solidifies the group as a Christian themed Metal Act that does have some skill to stand tall in their niche of music. Overall the album is far from bad, offers more diversity then on previous efforts, and sounds much tighter and matured, leaving you will a rather entertaining album that. But, there are still tracks on here that are rather boring and unimpressive, leaving a tainted feeling of filler behind when done, dragging the album down to the depths with them. Either way, if the band continues to grow as they have with this release, then there may be some promising things ahead for Titanic, as well as their fans.
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