Optimus

Artist: John Norum
Label: Mascot
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1
EAN: 8712725708025
ASIN: B0007KT0B8

Release Date: 2005-03-03

Optimus

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Tracks:

Chase Down The Moon
Nailed To The Cross
Better Day
One More Time
Time To Run
Optimus
Takin' The Blame
Change Will Come
Forced
Solitude

Similar Items:

Another Destination
Secret Society
Face the Truth
Slipped into Tomorrow
Start From the Dark

Album Details

The Guitarist of Europe is at it Again with a New Rage. This Follow Up to the Band's "Start from the Dark" Has Increased Exposure to Norum's Massive Guitar Playing and Solo Career.

Customer Reviews:

Optimus- A Near Miss..........2006-05-15

I recently came across this cd in a used shop, and was very happy to pick it up. I have been a big fan of John's for many years. I have all of his previous solo efforts and enjoy all of them. While I think John Norum is an exceptionally talented guitarist and songwriter, I really can't give this disc a favorable review. I have a few issues with it. First off the disc is extremely short. Ten songs clocking in at a total time of 37:52 is really unacceptable in this day and age of cd technology. Of the ten tracks, two are instrumental, which leaves only eight vocal tracks. Once I get past the short running time, my biggest issue it the drop-tuning guitar sound that John is using these days. It is also present on his last solo disc Slipped into Tomorrow. At times some of the tracks almost start to sound like Zak Wylde's BLS work. I find that rather strange as Norum comes from the European culture of rock/metal. This is an area where "traditional metal" is considered to still be doing well, and not having to update itself to more modern sounds. I again cite Norum's Thin Lizzy influence, which is nowhere to be found on this disc. Lizzy is long considered to be a pillar of classic European hard rock/metal.
My other issue is the same as was previously noted. John's vocals are passable, but he would benefit from using a guest vocalist who could have improved these tracks. I think John's first two solo albums are his best work. 1992's Face the Truth is simply fantasic.
In conclusion, there are a couple of decent tracks on here, such as Takin' the Blame and Time to Run. I am sure fans of John Norum will seek this disc out, no matter what reviews it recieves. I would encourage all fans to pick it up and form their own opinions, but in my humble opinion, I find it the least essential of his solo work.

It is simply the work of a poetic arsonist........2006-04-30

John Norum's "Optimus" is a an incendiary cocktail that burns,
without variation, into a symphonious burst of poetic expressions. The guitar work is consistent and pleasantly harsh, from beginning to end and the songs are even more interesting as they are stressed by John's ferocious and turbulent vocals.

This album is -required by rule- for people that enjoy his work and it is a great place to start for new listeners interested or curious about his music.

"Optimum" creation!

If they played baseball in Sweden, this would be a home run.......2006-01-18

Norum is in charge of the mike on this one and certainly in charge of his guitar. Even UK magazine Classic Rock liked this one and they (fairly enough) have panned some of his other releases.

The guitar work here is thundering and heavy. But in a 70's kind of way. Which makes sense since John grew up in that environment. But... well I'm sort of lost for words in the about turn this guy has achieved with this album. I can't give it five stars as it does drone a little, but the riffs here would be worth three stars even if the album was marred by Norums usually crap lyrics. And that isn't the case here. And listening to the latest Europe album, the guy took this new found heavy riff style into that band too, which can only be an improvement.

Anyone who liked the new Europe album should get this. Anyone who didn't like the new Europe album also should probably get this!

Not bad, not bad at all.......2005-12-05

I remember back in 1986 I bought the (brand new at the time) Europe's "The Final Countdown" on vinyl for $6 (CDs were very expensive then and I didn't have a CD Player, I was only 10). Anyhow I was quite impressed with John's guitar playing, but lost track of him after his excellent debut "Total Control".

Now, 19 years later, I am still impressed. While this CD only features John on vocals (which aren't spectacular but serviceable), he has reinvented himself quite a bit - the music has a much darker groove and rhythm to it. It sounds nothing like the 80s LA rock scene (George Lynch, etc), but he manages to overcome the odds and deliver songs that sound fairly fresh and ROCK HARD! Thankfully he doesn't step over the line into today's disastrous nu-metal played on rock radio everywhere. My only gripe is that he should have had "guest" vocalists like Goran Edman or Glenn Hughes, both of whom he used in the past - but I'm sure they're both busy nowadays. It would have broken up some of the monotony...oh well.

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