Jon Oliva’s who? Never heard of him and likewise never heard of the group so a bit of background checking needed before I could go any further, all part of the fun of being classed as a “newbie” to the rock genre I suppose.  It would seem that this is another of those albums that started life as a solo project, by the aforementioned Jon Oliva, who is the former singer and keyboard player with Savatage, then after quite a few months of work others came on board and the whole thing was reworked from scratch to accommodate the album being performed by a band.  The line-up for this recording is Jon Oliva on vocals and keyboard, John Zahner on keyboards, Shane French on guitar, Matt La Porte on guitar, Kevin Rothney on bass and Christopher Kinder on drums. 

Being very particular in what I listen to, I normally have to give a CD 2 or 3 spins before I can really get into the album and start to fully enjoy it, as far as I am concerned an album that grabs me during the first spin is as rare as rocking horse shit.   

As aggrieved as I am to say it (damm it to hell and back), I have found my rocking horse shit with this release.  This album is amazing, from the grand synths, the orchestral moments, to the twin guitars, huge riffs, catchy choruses and very memorable melodies, this is an album that deserves a lot and should receive the highest possible plaudits, it deserves them. 

The songs on this release are epic structures that have obviously been composed by a master at work.  The way he has managed to blend together Twin rock guitars, orchestral strings, grand piano and his very personal and emotional way of singing are without a shadow of doubt the best I have heard in a long, long time, tie that in with the production and mixing that are clear and crisp, and you have something that is close to an epiphany in the musical world. 

Jon Oliva, in his song writing, is not scared to show where he gets is inspiration and there are obvious passages throughout the album that reek of Alice Cooper, Queen and in places Roger Daltry and The Who.  However, he is not plagiarising when he uses their styles, he has refined, reworked and reached composition and musical heights that are head, shoulders, waist and legs above anything that is out on the streets now.  This is one of those albums I feel that people will be talking about in years to come, not so much as a breaker of new ground, but as one of the top albums that you had to have in your collection, a bit like the cult albums of the 70’s i.e. “Tubular Bells”, “Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust”, “Out of the Blue”, et al, and by god it deserves to be.  

I could carry on waxing lyrical about this release for hours, but I don’t want to bore you any more than I already have, but I will just say this:  I am an honest bloke, a well know Rock Guru and part time sex god so you can trust me when I say “BUY THIS ALBUM”.  It has jumped its way right to the top of my list of Albums of the Year and I am going to have to go against all my principles and give this release 10/10.  I did promise myself that I would never do that, but I do feel that, apart from me, this release is as near perfection as you can get.  A must have album.

Let us know your views on 'Maniacal Renderings'

Track List

Through The Eyes Of The King
Maniacal Renderings
The Evil Beside You
Time To Die
The Answer
Push It To The Limit
Who´s Playing God
Timeless Flight
Holes
End Times
Still I Pray For You Now

Line Up

Jon Oliva - Vocals/Keys
John Zahner - Keys
Shane French - Guitars
Matt LaPorte - Guitars
Kevin Rothney - Bass
Christopher Kinder - Drums