Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Tad Morose “Modus Vivendi” Century Media Records 2004 reviewed by: Ken Pierce

Track Listing Track Listing: 1. Anubis 2. No Mercy 3. Afraid To Die 4. Clearly Insane 5. Cyberdome 6. Take On The World 7. Mother Shipton’s Words 8. Unwelcome Guest 9. Life In A Lonely Grave 10. When The Spirit Rules

Every now and again you find a group that you miss somehow. One such group that I had never heard of was Tad Morose from Sweden. The band was making an appearance with EdGuy in NYC on their way to the ProgPowerUSA Fest. After listening to the CD “Modus Vivendi” and also catching a live set I can only say one thing about these makers of molten metal……FANTASTIC!!! From start to finish this CD is an awesome piece of work. I enjoyed track after track from this Swedish Quintet and here are some highlights about it.

Tad Morose brings a special quality to the term power metal, as it is very old school in its sound yet can also be considered original in its delivery and overall vibe. The vocals of Urban Breed don’t rely much on the operatic styling as many of his peers are apt to do these days. Yet they hold well and powerful through track after track. He is also a killer frontman getting the audience rallied to the music in a live set. The bandmates providing a great backing vocal to his lead making the chorus sections that much more full and exciting. The lineup has changed a little for those who have been following the group. It now stands as Urban Breed (vocals), Christer Andersson (guitars), Anders Modd (bass), Peter Moren (Drums) and Daniel Olsson (Guitars).

Some parts of the CD have a definitive Savatage feel to them and guitarist Christer “Krunt” Andersson will be quick to cite the groups influencial nature as part of their sound. You will find this homage most prevalent in tracks like “Unwelcome Guest” and “Take On The World” (my favorite so far). Some of the heavier and faster numbers are “Mother Shiptons Words” and “Cyberdome”. As a metal fan, this is a CD that you should seek out, and a band that needs to play more shows in the USA. Give this a shot with the highest of recommendations from me. It is that good.


Rating: 9/10

Tad Morose Homepage: www.tadmorose.com

--Ken Pierce 11.04.04
Tad Morose - Modus Vivendi 2003 Century Media - reviewed by: EC

Track Listing1.Anubis 2.No mercy 3.Afraid to die 4.Clearly insane 5.Cyberdome 6.Take on the world 7.Mother shipton's words 8.Unwelcome guest 9.Life in a lonely grave 10.When the spirit tules the world

Tad Morose have been keeping the power metal flame lit in Sweden for years now, orgininally starting out as a progressive outfit before switching gears with their third record, "A Mended Rhyme". This record was the first with vocalist Urban Breed and showcased a side of Tad Morose that we hadn't heard. With "A Mended Rhyme", the group lost alot of the keyboard sound that had made them famous with Black Mark Records. With the following album, "Undead", Breed and the boys set fire to their past and moved into a much more metalized campaign for their new label Century Media. With "Undead", Tad Morose left their progressive roots behind, capturing the sounds of early Dio, "The Warning" era Queensryche, and the gothic thrashing of fellow Swedes Morgana Lefay. In 2002, Tad Morose created their best album to date, "Matters Of The Dark". This record really seamed together, with Breed's charismatic vocal style and the band polishing off a fury-filled rush of classic metal stylings.

Now, the group returns again with new album "Modus Vivendi". Fans of "Matters Of The Dark" and "Undead" will go crazy here, with the band delivering a mature and well balanced follow-up to "Matters.." Tad Morose are just a magical band, not sounding like anyone out there right now, playing their own brand of traditional heaviness, concentrating on the past but moving it into our modern mainframe. Urban Breed is one of the best vocalists ever in my opionion, very under-rated and simply ignored by the metal community, Breed continues to belt out album after album of perfectly crafted metalwork.

"Modus Vivendi" really captures all of what has become trademark Tad Morose elements. There is no rock left unturned here as the group trounces through ten tracks of epic gothic power, adding even more modern elements but refusing to abandon their signature sound. Tracks like "No Mercy" and "Afraid To Die" are exactly what you would expect here, raging somewhere between "Matters..." and "Undead" material with a good shot of doom injected in all the right places. Album opener "Anubis" bursts out with a highly charged downtuned groove that brings to mind bands like Nevermore and even Angel Dust, with plenty of Arabic scaling that the group does so well. Fast paced "Clearly Insane" burns red hot, with fast double bass and layered twin guitar harmony.

"Cyberdome" has Urban Breed sounding just like Jeff Martin of Racer-X crossed with metal god Rob Rock. Urban Breed is just that good. He can add a certain mood to any paced song, with the thrashers sounding angry and aggressive without his vocals becoming abbrassive, while at the same time he can slow things down to a crawl but add enough emotion to keep the listener well tuned. "Mother Shipton's Words" moves at roller coaster speed, possibly the band's fastest song to date with the chorus slowing things down a notch to keep the ever important melodic passanger still intact. Every track here stands out, with each being a unique, well crafted score sure to please every metal fan out there.

Tad Morose continue to make great albums, epic albums of sincere, heartfelt metallic beauty. If you loved "Undead" or "Matters Of The Dark", then this is a must have. Is it as good as those albums? That is a tough question. I believe that all three albums can stand on their own. These guys just have a musical talent and gift that thankfully they have discovered early enough in their career that they can expand upon and "season" through time and effort. Few bands have that luxury, but hopefully if their sales continue they will be given every opportunity.

I have a good feeling that this album will rank in my top 5 of 2004. The album will be released in the states on February 9th, 2004 through Century Media, while the European market enjoys it two months earlier courtesy of SPV.

--EC 01.06.04