Evolution are an über-talented quartet that never got a huge break or the success they so rightfully deserved. It's a lopsided condition that explains why the lineup for this album dissolved shortly after the world tour-members felt worn out from grueling roadwork and solo projects were derailing individual commitment - leaving singer Steve Bateman to safeguard Evolution's legacy on his own. The state of the band at the moment is rather precarious, but it's surviving.

Now whether you're a fan of Ozzy Osbourne (his music that is, not the reality show about his retarded family) or just love heavy metal with balls, Evolution's 2007 opus, 'Marcator Project', satisfies your musical cravings in ways you never imagined. It's Tantric sex, considering how the songs twist and thrust, where Spanish guitars, groovy hooks, and furious solos wrap themselves around you to suck your life giving juices, leaving you numb in the post-coital afterglow. Seductive perfection crackles inside its 40-minute length that's oddly represented by Leonardo Da Vinci's bearded mug on the cover. (Where's the connection?) You want hooks? Driving melodies? Songs that make you want to jump and scream? Check, check, and double check! To put it bluntly, 'Marcator Project' is like 'No Rest for the Wicked' (1988) meets Mr. Big painted over with a lot of heartfelt lyrics - this comparison explains the appeal of 'I Don't Care', 'Friend', and the arena anthem 'Born to Rock'.

Having established how potent the album is, here's a quick overview of the other songs; opener 'Can't Get Enough' is the adrenalin-fueled barrage that introduces Evolution's trademark pop-appeal mixed with headbanging fun. The tempo relaxes a bit for the hard-driving 'Regain Your Crown', the first song on the album to tell a story. A similar lyrical bent is heard on 'Friend', the potential hit-single 'Look out, 'On the Run', and 'Angel', which can only be about falling in love and girls. Concerning girls, 'Marcator Project' reaches its catchiest best at 'Girls Girls'. Without taking the raunch level to Motley Crüe lows, Evolution round their repertoire with a tribute to the opposite sex.

This is a definitive 2007 release that nobody heard about. It just comes to show how unforgiving the music business can be. But hey, knowing that somewhere out there is an uncelebrated masterpiece worth adding to your CD collection makes you thank the heavens for places like Archaic Metallurgy.

Rating: 9½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Miguel Miranda
12/06/2008 20:54