Time Signature Another NWoBHM artist returns...

Genre: traditional heavy metal / hard rock

Among the many NWoBHM bands returning to the limelight after decades away from the scene, Gaskin released their fourth album "Edge of Madness" last year.

Unlike many other resurrected, or just re-inspired, NWoBHM artists, Gaskin do no dwell on the aesthetics associated with the movement, but seem to draw on other aspects of traditional metal and hard rock. "Edge of Madness" contains a blend of metal and hard rock tracks, and is in itself a bit of a mixed experience.

Thus, the listener is treated to pretty good old school metal tunes in the form of 'Edge of Madness', 'Damnation', 'Heart of Thunder', and 'The Contract', while other tracks are more in an AOR-inspired direction, such as 'Bedlam', 'Lost and Lonely', and 'Man's World'. Of the AOR-tinged tracks, 'Bedlam' is brilliant and 'Lost and Lonely' is okay, while 'Man's World' strikes me as being quite lackluster (with some good moments every now and then, nonetheless). In addition, the ballady track 'Wake Up Dead' is quite sub par to my ears. In contrast, the mostly acoustic instrumental 'Te Amavi' is quite the artistic success.

Overall, 'Edge of Madness' is a pretty good traditional metal and hard rock album which has more than a handful of positive moments, but it is, as mentioned, also a quite uneven affair, perhaps containing some tracks that should have been replaced by some stronger ones.

Still, fans of hard rock and traditional metal, as well as NWoBHM buss, are likely to enjoy the album.