Adrian Weiss
Criminal Record

German fellow Herr Adrian Weiss returns with the third album under his own name, it is called Criminal Record and it features a cassette tape on the front. So what about this criminal record? Is it the record that is criminal or Adrian himself who admits to having a criminal record – I am guessing the former over the latter. But of course it is quality melodic rock music, fortunately not criminally bad or criminally uninventive. But is it better than the predecessor Easy Game that was released two years ago?

That question isn’t an easy one, it is different and it is great – perhaps better, perhaps not. It is an album that offers clever instrumental rock music with strong variation that takes advantage of the lack of limitations a vocalist sometimes entails. The nine tracks plays for about 47 minutes and that feels like a good time for this album to play as I can remain focused through the entire time without my mind drifting away towards other things – as it often does when an album is less interesting or too long. Much fresher and inventive than the cassette on the cover and I would guess that it is thanks to a few guests this album can feel so varied and full of life – it adds some different flavour to the whole, and I can describe Adrian as wise to think of those things.

It is clearly a strong album and clearly one that I can recommend to all our readers – a good album to end this year’s reviewing with. It is thanks to writing for Hallowed that I have come to discover that there are some really good instrumental bands/artists out there, and Adrian Weiss is certainly one of those artists that have changed my view on instrumental rock music. His music on this album certainly gets a positive nod from me and you would be a moron not to look closer at this album.

So what about the criminal thing? I guess the only thing criminal about this album is that it is almost criminally good; therefore I can only tip my hat to Adrian for making it. I think you would be wise to check it out, could be criminal not to.

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