Blaze Bayley
Promise And Terror

It is inevitable that for an artist, very well-known by a few and little known by many, private life often coincides with public life, with all the consequences that come with it. So, when fate decreed that his wife Debbie died after a series of strokes, Blaze Bayley inevitably tasted the bitter flavor of life, losing what was his favorite sugar cube. His private life and consequently his public one, experienced a shock of very high magnitude and the only way to fight the period of depression following the loss of his wife was to return to the studio and reclaim his music: heavy metal, the direct and no-frills kind, one of the last bastions in a scene now almost completely saturated with ultra-commercial and out-of-this-world proposals. On this wave of events, Promise and Terror was born, the second album under the full moniker and fifth since he started his solo career with Silicon Messiah.

From the cover to the very atmosphere emanating from the eleven tracks, it's clear that Debbie's death has significantly influenced Blaze in the stylistic composition of the album. Heavier songs compared to the past, governed by a more aggressive attitude than usual and sometimes interspersed with fleeting melodic openings, but skillfully positioned to give a sense of continuity suitable to the entire work. Overall, Promise and Terror is nothing extraordinary, yet from the beginning of this solo venture, good old Blaze has never failed: we're not talking about absolute masterpieces, but he has always firmly placed his signature, continuing to produce and sing what he likes most without disappointing the fans' expectations. For this reason, "Madness and Sorrow", "God of Speed", "The Trace of Things That Have No Words", as well as "Time to Dare", show us a vocalist still full of drive, despite the difficult time. An album that maintains a more than respectable level throughout its entire duration, although the last two tracks are negligible and might even seem like fillers.

A few months after its release, Promise and Terror has nonetheless made headlines, especially for the signature it carries. A name that, for better or worse, has always sparked discussion. Blaze Bayley can be criticized for not having an extraordinary voice, for proposing a tune now too similar to itself, yet he has continued to beat the same path, regardless of the countless criticisms, which more than once have risked bringing him down face first onto the asphalt. A craftsman, but one of those consistent with themselves...

1. "Watching The Night Sky" (3:36)
2. "Madness And Sorrow" (3:09)
3. "1633" (6:04)
4. "God Of Speed" (5:48)
5. "City Of Bones" (6:26)
6. "Faceless" (3:46)
7. "Time To Dare" (5:41)
8. "Surrounded By Sadness" (3:59)
9. "The Trace Of Things That Have No Words" (5:49)
10. "Letting Go Of The World" (6:24)
11. "Comfortable In Darkness" (5:00)