Toby Hitchcock name and abilities came to the attention of Melodic Rock fans when former Survivor founding member Jim Peterik chose him as the lead singer for the band that would mark his return on the scene: Pride of Lions. With Pride of Lions, Toby had the chance to sing on three studio albums which are considered as true classic among the fans. Toby also appeared live fronting the band and his performances at the Lokerse Feesten in Belgium and at the United Forces of Rock in Germany created a vast consensus about his amazing abilities. Often compared to Bobby Kimball (Toto), Jimi Jamison (Survivor) or Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Hitchockc's voice has the depth, the feeling and the extension of each of them, still keeping his own identity and trademark.
S**.
Where did this guy come from?!?!?
After some research I see he's Pride of Lions frontman. It's a sad time in music when someone this good is found on YouTube & not mainstream. It took me all of 10 minutes to decide to buy this CD after I first heard of him there. A HUGE pat on the back to Frontiers Records for still backing AOR style music. Please put some of your Media horsepower behind this guy. He truly ranks up there with the greats such as Bobby Kimball, Jeff Scott Soto & yeah, I'll say it... even Steve Perry. I wanna hear Toby cover Separate Ways by Journey. Toby is obviously going to just keep getting better as someone this good doesn't just happen overnight.Voice:The power Toby has on the high notes could cut down a forest & still be sharp enough to shatter a wine glass afterwards. Many singers "thin-out" when transitioning to head voice but Toby just keeps belting it out like an opera singer. He isn't just a ripper as when he lays back into the middle of his range his voice is down-right beautiful...tough for a straight man to say that but it's what it is. So much feeling on the softer parts. Pure emotion. Toby's vibrato is David Coverdale big...I mean it's mesmerizing. When he holds the notes for a few seconds & then turns on the vibrato it's just perfect. What a great technique.Overall this is a CD that exposes todays overall mainstream music for what it really is...garbage. Great male singers have all but disappeared into the past (almost). I eagerly await a second release. Thank you Toby Hitchcock for all the hard work it took to get your voice to what it is & for sharing it! You truly are one of the greats!When's the next one?
M**L
Strong solo debut for Toby Hitchcock!
Toby Hitchcock has finally released his solo debut and it is a very strong melodic rock album showcasing his powerful vocal range. After contributing vocals to three albums from Pride Of Lions and making his stamp on the melodic rock world it was definitely time to hear a solo record from one of the strongest new voices in this genre. Mercury's Down is backed up by Frontiers Records so you know you're going to get a big rock record with very good production and the bonus here is that Erik Martensson from Eclipse and W.E.T. handles all the music. The album is similar to previous offerings from Frontiers but the emotional vocal delivery from Toby is reason to buy this particular record. Highlights include the moody build up of "Let Go", the massive ballad "One Day I'll Stop Loving You", and the strong chorus of "A Different Drum". Despite the fact that Mercury's Down doesn't quite hit the heights of some of the other very strong melodic rock releases this year, it still represents one of the essential albums to check out. Mercury's Down is highly recommended to anyone that enjoyed any of the three Pride Of Lions albums and anyone that likes what Erik Martensson has done recently including the absolutely classic W.E.T. album featuring Jeff Scott Soto on vocals.
M**O
Toby Hitchcock = Awesome Voice
Toby Hitchcock has one of the best voices in music. I have been a Pride of Lions fan from the early days so the anticipation for a solo effort was huge. It's tough to rank these songs but I will list JUST SAY GOODBYE as my top track after a few times through it.I don't know much about Eric Martenssen but he was obviously a big part of this collaboration. Aside from Toby's awesome vocal power, I thought the arrangements and guitars were top notch for a melodic rock effort.Hard to believe a misspelled word is in the final version of the liner notes (Let Go) but that won't stop this one from getting a 5 star review.
M**R
Great, melodic rock album.
This is a great, melodic rock album, which I purchased many months ago, and just listened to again today on my Amazon Music playlist. Coincidentally, no, I don't think so, this album came up as Amazons' first suggested product for me to review after I selected another product for review. In any event, this is a wonderful release by Toby Hitchcock.
J**.
An Amazing Voice
Toby Hitchcock has a great voice. This CD does not have a week song on it. I particularly like the harder edge songs including, This is the Moment, Summernights in Cabo, Tear Down the Barricades, A Different Drum, and Mercury's Down.
T**O
It may be better then I think - but maybe I think too much.
Better than Pride of Lions but not quite up to the top level that I would expect from the producer. Erik M. can put a great CD together. This is loud and in your face stuff - but not up to Eclipse, Treat, State of Salizar or Work of Art. I think of it as the next tier. I have listened to it off and on for months - but it just kind of goes by. I am left with a positive impression of the production but something about the phrasing of the singer and his muscular tone just seems to miss the mark. I am glad I bought it and I hope that I somehow find the right moment and fall in love with what is on display.
C**I
Cd usato in ottime condizioni
Visto che non sono tanto pratico di Amazon rilascio anche se con molto ritardo un feed positivo per il cd da me acquistato un po' di tempo addietro.Cd ottimo!Grazie.
P**N
Meisterwerk vom Pride Of Lions Sänger und Eclipse / W.E.T. Multitalent Erik Mårtensson
Die Stimme von Pride Of Lions in Kooperation mit einem der begnadetsten Musiker und Kreativköpfe Europas: das ergibt ein Melodic-Rock Album, welches in punkto Songwriting und Produktion schlicht perfekt ist. „Mercury’s Down“ ist bis dato der erste Solo-Ausflug des Amerikaners Toby Hitchcock, seines Zeichens Sänger der von Ex-Survivor Gitarrist Jim Peterik gegründeten Melodic Rock Band Pride Of Lions. Auf eben jenen genialen Jim Peterik muss Hitchcock für sein Solo-Werk verzichten. Stattdessen hat er in Person von Erik Mårtensson einen zwar leider weniger prominenten, aber mindestens gleichsam begabten Songwriter, Produzenten und Multi-Instrumentalisten an seiner Seite. Eclipse-Mastermind und W.E.T. / Ammunition-Gitarrist Mårtensson erschafft mit „Mercury’s Down“ einen fesselnden Meilenstein des Melodic-Rock. Es ist für mich faszinierend, woher der so jugendlich wirkende Schwede all die traumhaften Songideen und Melodien herzaubert, und auf der anderen Seite die Zeit findet, praktisch alle Instrumente höchstpersönlich einzuspielen, das Album in seinen Blowout Studios zu mixen und zu produzieren.Toby Hitchcock’s Stimme liegt irgendwo in der Region von Bobby Kimball (Ex-Toto), Jimi Jamison (Survivor) oder Lou Gramm (Foreigner) und die Fans jener Bands dürfte auch „Mercury’s Down“ ansprechen. Das ganze Album wirkt wie aus einem Guss, überzeugt durch Pathos, pompöse Melodien, fetter Chöre in den Refrains und ausgereifte Spannungsbögen, die jeden Anflug von Langeweile wegblasen. Alle Songs bewegen sich tendenziell im Mid-Tempo-Sektor, wenngleich man auch die für die Stilrichtung obligatorischen Balladen findet („Let Go“, „One Day I’ll Stop Loving You“). Im direkten Vergleich zu Pride Of Lions finde ich die Gitarrenarbeit von Erik Mårtensson und Kollegen (siehe Line-Up) hier etwas Riff-betonter und die Songs generell rhythmisch gesehen knackiger, man höre beispielsweise „Tear Down The Barricades“. Insbesondere im Titeltrack erkenne ich die Eclipse-Handschrift. „Just Say Goodbye“ würde hingegen auch gut in ein Journey-Album passen.Erik Mårtensson ist in meinen Augen derzeit einer der genialsten Songwriter aus good old Europe. Der gesamte Silberling hat nicht einen Ausfall. Sicher kann man gewisse Inspiration von Bands wie Survivor, Journey, Talisman oder Praying Mantis erkennen. Doch was soll’s – das Rad neu zu erfinden ist mittlerweile schwer und aus meiner Sicht auch nicht nötig, wenn so eine perfekte Veröffentlichung resultiert.Das Werk kann ich mir auch bestens für das Billing eines kommenden Frontiers Rock Festivals oder Rockingham Live Festivals vorstellen. Ob die Formation die Chance bekommen wird, jemals live zu spielen, steht aber in den Sternen. Dass Erik Mårtensson kein Problem damit hat, auch zweimal bei einem Festival oder gar an einem Abend zu spielen, zeigt er in diesem Jahr mehrfach (Eclipse / Ammunition, z.B. Rockingham Live).Line-UpToby Hitchcock – Lead VocalsErik Mårtensson – Gitarre, Bass, Drums, Keyboard, Background VocalsFredrik Folkare – Gitarre (8, 12)Magnus Henriksson – Gitarre (2, 9)Magnus Ulfstedt – Drums (3, 6, 11)Miqael Persson – Background Vocals (11)
R**W
FM
comme d' habitude le label frontière record signent des artistes qui ont fait leurs preuves dans ce style (aor ou hard fm)
A**Y
メロディー派には最高のアルバム！
hard rock ファンは買いです！！曲がいい。トビーの伸びやかな声をいかしている。プライドよりギターが前に出ていて僕はこちらの方が好きでリピートしてます。トビーの声は圧巻の一言。凄いですね。二枚目も期待しています
R**T
Five Stars
Really satisfied with everything. Recommended. +++
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