MILLENIUM
The Best Of...And More
Frontiers Records 2004
www.frontiers.it

What’s the 4-1-1?
As a thank you to their fans, the Tampa Bay power metal-ers close a chapter on their past with a collection of eighteen hits on two CDs. As a bonus they throw in unreleased tracks and demos.

Genre
Hard rock / power metal

The Good
Disc one focuses on Millenium’s last two releases, Hourglass and Angelfire. A harmonic a cappella verse leads into an over-the-top rhythm section on “Power to Love”. If that isn’t perplexing wait until the piano breakdown. What would power metal be without a six minute opus? “Hourglass” starts off with a slow drum beat that leads to a power chord laden chorus. “Superstar” could be used as a great power anthem for your favorite wrestler or superhero. There’s some great guitar leads to listen for. The riffs become a little more dark and meaty when “Shaman” rolls around. Even though you can hear a change in vocalists, it never takes away from the group as a whole. Each vocalist is a melodic powerhouse. Some catchy guitar licks and chugga-chugga riffs dominate “End of Time”. Chalk up another catchy chorus for Millenium. The group blends heavy ascending guitar chords with soothing single note picking on “Heaven Sent”. The opening licks on “The Color of Night” have more of a bluesy feel to them. The lyrics are delivered with passion and emotion.

Disc two is comprised of Millenium’s first self titled album and unreleased material. You can hear how raw their sound was on “Believe in Love”. The guitars were still trying to find that right power metal tone. Millenium sound more like your standard rock band of the time. “Almost Made It to Heaven” is an acoustic power ballad that’s enhanced by powerful vocal chops. Millenium abandoned a covers CD project they were working on, but saved four recording from the session. They breathe new life into Rainbow’s “I Surrender” and Jefferson Starship’s “Jane”. “Love is Like Oxygen” is by far the most obscure and best cover. Two unreleased song from the Jorn Lande sessions are included, the tender “Rain” and the heavy hitting “Anybody”. Millenium round out the set with four well produced demos.

The Bad
The songs run chronologically backward instead of forward.

The Verdict
Millenium set the standard by which all greatest hits collections should be comprised of. You get the best material, plus the rare material. That’s what fans really want!

Did You Know?
Millenium used to be known as Eyewitness back in the U.S. in 1995.

Rating: out of 5

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--George Dionne