No,TSR(True Symphonic Rockestra) is not your everyday Symphonic metal/rock experience.You can’t rely on my word?Oh,then listen to what GIFTIG/TSR guitarist Dirk Ulrich had to say.
“We have a Fear Factory version of O Sole Mio“.
Well,if you do not know “O Sole Mio” it’s not my fault,you’ve been living under a rock,or more likely in front of your P.C.I remember talking about a heavy metal version of this master piece with my friend Chathuranga Fonseka(Frontman:Funeral in Heaven) when we were singing this with our colleagues at out Speech and Drama class.Well Chathuranga,these guys did it for us pal!
The concept of The 3 Rock Tenors and the True Symphonic Orchestra was born in the head of Dirk Ulrich(GIFTIG Guitarist & independent Producer),while he was recording with a hardcore metal band and two other heavy metal singers doing background vocals.The concept had since evolved from having 3 metal vocalists to cover “the best of” repertoire of “The 3 Tenors”(Luciano Pavrotti,Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras) to two classic tenors(Thomas Dewald,Vladimir Grishko) and one rock tenor(Dream Theater’s James LaBrie).However considering the quality of the tracks available for dowload on the TSR media page it is not exagggeration to say this music “lierally blows you over”
As I’ve already said this in my “About” page,I do not intend to present what appears in other sites in my own words.So without describing the project let me move on to the actual music.
Combining heavy metal with classical music is not new to metal heads around the world.To be honest,“the classical roots of metal are so obvious” than of any other non-classical music form.Of course this kind of work has been done before,but honestly a Fear Factory version of “O Sole Mio”?That’s too hot to just ignore,right?
The initial thought that me after I listened to the three downloadable tracks was,”They should have called it the Rochestra not Rockestra,I wanted more guitars!!!”.Maybe that’s a side-effect of being a guitarist,you always want more guitars!But after a few listens I was convinced that this music is perfect,and there’s nothing left to be spoken.
Granada,starts with a bang,ends with a bang.Add flashy solos,loads of double bass,piercing violins and top class operatic vocals with lots of vibrato in between and you get the basic idea of TSR.The guitar towards the end of the song,clearly portrays the “Metallica” influence in Dirk.“Very Hammety” will describe it best I think. The metallers will be rolling their eyes when they first hear Libiamo Ne’ Lieti Calici,but when Paul Mayland pounds on the drums,they’ll want to too.I call it an absoloute masterpeice,this was so different from what I expected to hear.Absoloutely Ace TSR,absoloutely Ace.The legendary Nessun Dorma is pretty much the same,except for bomber bass and the drums.
Speaking to Rita Bayer of Progressive Rock One-Stop,Dirk revealed that Madame Caballe(worked with the late Freddy Mercury-Queen) and the late Luciano Pavrotti were very happy by the sounds of TSR during the experimental stages.It is also said Madame Caballe went on to call it as a perfect approach young people with classical music.Well,Madame Caballe,the metal heads are always ready,I think some classical fans will need to open their minds a bit more!Some….
Their debut album “Concerto in True Minor” will be released on the 28th of February,2008.Considering the songs available for download,it’s pretty much obvious that we will get what the long wait deserves!
I have one question Dirk,if Freddy Mercury was alive,who would be your pick?Freddy or James?
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An interesting concept. It usually sounds good and I enjoy listening such performances.