Classic Rock carried a studio report from Ten about their forthcoming concept album. Apparently the album may may not now be called "Babylon" after all - no alternative given. Also some interesting little comments from Vinny Burns. He says that he´s a bit happier with the new album compared with Spellbound, because there are more guitars, and less Iron Maiden and celtic influences. That´s interesting, since I personally didn´t like Spellbound as much as the earlier stuff and I got the impression that many fans were of the same opinion as I (then again, quite a few seemed to be in favour, so what do I know?!). Vinny also says that Ten are committed to promoting themselves more in England by gigging more extensively... Sounds good to me!http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1558#msg-1558Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:07:30 +1000 Phorum 5.2.16 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1806#msg-1806 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1806#msg-1806 alfonse NoticeboardFri, 02 Jun 2000 09:46:43 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1773#msg-1773 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1773#msg-1773
Contrary to your somewhat catty and vindictive email, Vinny Burns' remarks to me in the recent Classic Rock studio report were not taken out of contect at all. He told me in as many words that the band were considering a different title on the day that we spoke. Would you like me to send you a copy of the tape?
Likewise, he did say those things about the direction of 'Spellbound'. There was insufficient room to go into taking the whole celtic thing further on a solo album; we were talking about a 300 word piece on a Ten album, with a new line-up after all, but I felt his comments on 'Spellbound' were appropriate for inclusion. I cannot believe you are taking issue with anything that was said.
I was appalled at your childish comments about writers always trying to see the negative in their subjects, but not surprised. We are here to bring a story, not regurgitate the latest press release. We approached you to publicise a band who at present are virtual unknowns in their homeland with a view to starting to rectify that situation. As far as Classic Rock is concerned, this is a band of the future. But, no, you have to go wailing and griping to the world at large about so-called missquotes, as well as taking potshots at people who are trying to help you, without having the decency to have aired any grievancies to me first.
Mark, you seem to inhabit a cosy, smiling world filled by 100 per cent album reviews - of your own product - where everbody has to agree with your own viewpoint. Not everything you are associated with is flawless - get used to it. Frankly, I'm getting tired of all this moaning. Bullshit aside, I remain a fan of Ten and am looking forward to hearing 'Babylon', or whatever they're calling it this afternoon.

Dave Ling, Classic Rock]]> Dave Ling NoticeboardThu, 01 Jun 2000 00:14:30 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1637#msg-1637 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1637#msg-1637
Keep rockin',
Josep Maria]]> Josep Maria Flores NoticeboardFri, 26 May 2000 02:21:31 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1629#msg-1629 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1629#msg-1629
In places you´ve misunderstood me. I am not really an AOR fan, much more into melodic metal w/ virtuoso guitar, so a heavy Ten album would be much welcomed. Nonetheless, to these ears Spellbound just didn´t cut it. Personal taste and for sure if Babylon has as much Iron Maiden influence as Spellbound did then I´m not gonna like it much.

Have to comment on this:

"I`d say "Babylon" has quite a few heavy songs on it. The whole thing generally rocks pretty hard throughout. There may be more
rhythm guitars on "Babylon" than "Spellbound", but there`s probably less lead guitar as the material is telling a story so has a lot
of vocals and also with Don Airey`s involvement there are more keyboard solos than before."

IMHO "more heavy" and "less lead guitar" are mutually exclusive in this particular genre. Especially where more keyboard solos are involved. Nonetheless, I´ll buy it - and hope my fears are unfounded. Thanks again.

]]> Steve, Denmark NoticeboardThu, 25 May 2000 23:03:47 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1626#msg-1626 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1626#msg-1626
I know this is a real stretch...


But get those boys over here in the US!!!!!!!

:)

-Frank]]> Frank NoticeboardThu, 25 May 2000 21:08:02 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1609#msg-1609 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1609#msg-1609What are the obstacles, if any.]]> Surfpunk NoticeboardThu, 25 May 2000 07:19:22 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1593#msg-1593 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1593#msg-1593
Yea your right - everybody has different opinions about any bands best work as for Ten I like In The Name Of the Rose and Spellbound even though the style has changed slightly.

I also think that as a band Ten deserve our support and I look forward to hearing the next one - Babylon.
Hopefully it'll sound just as good as Mark's unbiased comments says it does.


cheers Al

]]> Al NoticeboardThu, 25 May 2000 01:18:20 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1581#msg-1581 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1581#msg-1581
>Classic Rock carried a studio report from Ten about their forthcoming concept >album.

They sure did and Vinny`s not best pleased as the piece was a collection of misquotes and things taken out of context. Why magazines insist on taking the negative out of an interview rather than actually trying to help promote good music is beyond me. Have these journalists learnt nothing from the failures of RAW, KERRANG etc. Anyway, that`s a whole other discussion.

>Apparently the album may may not now be called "Babylon" after all - no >alternative given.

It is and alsways has been called "Babylon" from the moment that Gary decided that`s what the album would be called. God knows where they got this from.

>Also some interesting little comments from Vinny Burns. He says that he´s a bit >happier with the new album compared with Spellbound, because there are more >guitars,

I`m not sure you could have an album with more guitars than "Spellbound". Vinny`s only problem with "Spellbound" was only with one or two songs which are more in the technical metal style, which he isn`t a fan of. It`s not that he thinks that "The Phantom" is a crap song, he just doesn`t like that style of music, so he also wouldn`t like anything by IRON MAIDEN, STRATOVARIUS, HELLOWEEN, ROAYL HUNT etc. It`s just not his thing. He`s more into bands like JOURNEY, SCORPIONS, THIN LIZZY etc.
I`d say "Babylon" has quite a few heavy songs on it. The whole thing generally rocks pretty hard throughout. There may be more rhythm guitars on "Babylon" than "Spellbound", but there`s probably less lead guitar as the material is telling a story so has a lot of vocals and also with Don Airey`s involvement there are more keyboard solos than before.

>and less Iron Maiden and celtic influences.

He actaully likes the celtic stuff. His actual comment was that he might even do some of that on his next solo album as he`s half Irish. he was making the point that as soon as any bands do anything like that, journalists are so quick to get the knives out and say it`s just a Lizzy rip-off, even though anyone with that background should be perfectly legit to do it.

>That´s interesting, since I personally didn´t like Spellbound as much as the >earlier stuff

I think you may be sadly disappointed when you hear "Babylon" then as it`s much heavier than the earlier material generally. The album has many different styles to it to be honest. There are 3 very different ballads ( "Love Became The Law" is very dark sounding, "Silent Rain" is a hugely commercial power ballad and "Valentine" is an epic in the vein of "Loneliest Place In The World" or "Someday" ), some killer AOR songs ( The GIANTesque "Barricades", the commercial LEPPARDesque "Give In This Time" and the singalong anthem of "Black Hearted Woman" ), three absolutely storming uptempo epics ( The opening track, "The Stranger", the PURPLEesque vibe of "Dawn Star" which has a huge chorus and some great keyboard / guitarwork at the end and "Thunder In Heaven", which was described by TEN`s engineer, Audu Obaje, as possibly the best song that the band has ever done! ) an Eastern flavoured stomper ( "Timeless" ) which is a huge beast of a track and even one incredibly different MEGADETH meets AOR track called "The Heat".
All I can say is that you should give it a listen as there`s something there for everyone.

>and I got the impression that many fans were of the same opinion as I (then >again, quite a few seemed to be in favour, so what do I know?!).

Well, "Spellbound" was by far the bands most successful album in Europe, taking them to a whole new level of sales in countries such as Germany, Italy and France. As with any band that has made several albums and actually has a career, there will be people who think that the new album is the best thing that the band has ever done and those who think it isn`t as good as a particular previous effort. It`s like picking the best THIN LIZZY album or the best UFO album. Everyone will have an opinion as to which is the best album but that doesn`t mean that the others aren`t good. We found that the AOR fans tended to be less keen on "Spellbound" but the more hard rock orientated listeners thought it was the best thing the band has done to date.

>Vinny also says that Ten are committed to promoting themselves more in >England by gigging more extensively... Sounds good to me!

That part of the feature was true. "Babylon" will definitely be extensively toured. I`m actually putting a European tour together at this moment, taking in Germany, Holland, Belgium, France and Spain, plus a GODS in Italy and the UK as well. A full UK tour will then be put together for early 2001 after the band has played in Japan where the entire new album will be performed as one piece of music


Bye for now,
Mark



]]> Mark Ashton NoticeboardWed, 24 May 2000 21:27:31 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1576#msg-1576 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1576#msg-1576
I think ten are pretty good and although their last album had the right level of guitar sounds they just need a bit more of a raunchier sound.

As for the Whitesnake comparisons these are musically I presume circa 1987 and not the blues based rock of earlier. As for the lyrical content Whitesnake are more interested in their aptly named monicker than demons, wizards and hobgoblins.

Vocally of course there is no comparison!!!!!!!!




]]> Al NoticeboardWed, 24 May 2000 18:45:13 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1570#msg-1570 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1570#msg-1570 KAOS FAN NoticeboardWed, 24 May 2000 15:17:37 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1563#msg-1563 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1563#msg-1563I really hope it's a great return to form but we'll have to wait and see I guess.
I heard it was going to be called 'Babylon AD' originally, by the way. Maybe they thought there may be legal problems with that one though.

Still, there's always the 'King Arthur' project to look backward (sorry, forward)to!!!]]> Surfpunk NoticeboardWed, 24 May 2000 06:08:04 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1558#msg-1558 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,1558,1558#msg-1558 Steve, Denmark NoticeboardWed, 24 May 2000 04:09:34 +1000