Michael Bormann – Different

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Former Jaded Heart vocalist Bormann has been most active as a solo artist in recent years, despite being the current front-man of no less than six other bands, and here he tries to deliver his most varied album so far, to match his varied career in rock and metal. What Bormann has created is a collection of songs which sound like other people. His voice obviously lends itself to such comparisons, but musically here he seems to be more than taking influence from various directions. The best track by a long way is grooving opener Life Is A Miracle, which has some real meat on its riff (only Breathless achieves the same muscle later, but its chorus is by-the-numbers AOR) and an excellent chorus backing vocal, even if it iss composed of made-up words. As good as the track is though, it’s pure Gotthard through and through. To The Top starts in a dark place as well and sounds like it’s going to have real potential to follow the groove of the opener, but it quickly abandons that feel for a light-weight riff and a Def Leppard good-time sound. Later he style of Bryan Adams dominates My Favourite Time and ballad , Don’t You Tell Me is the Bon Jovi that never was, and lots of Def Leppard runs through much of the second half of the disc, nothing quite reaching the heights of Life Is A Miracle. The only track which sounds vaguely original is the strangely folky Mr Rock ‘N’ Roll, which is as trite as the title suggests. Closing with a weak ballad in German doesn’t help matters either. For a record titled Different Bormann really should have ensured he didn’t sound like anyone else.

Written by Andy Lye
More: 2010, Albums, Quick.Play Reviews, Rock, Michael Bormann