Album Review: Awoken Broken PRIMAL ROCK REBELLION

Ignore the naff band name, even worse album title and cheesy artwork. Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith's (he's the axeman who isn't constantly smiling or dancing that bizarre jig on-stage) new venture doesn't look overly fashionable on paper.

That said, he co-wrote stone cold classics like 2 Minutes To Midnight and Flight Of Icarus, so we'll cut him some slack. Primal Rock Rebellion sees him combining with SikTh frontman Mikee Goodman, a union so unexpected it renders them metal's odd couple.

It's radically removed from Maiden and only marginally closer to SikTh's madcap noise. Their diverse debut incorporates melodic metal, ambient rock and industrial touches. Some plodding songwriting and odd pacing mean as an album it isn't particularly coherent, but there are individual songs that hit the mark. No Place Like Home and Savage World are quirkily catchy; the infectious Search For Bliss follows a somewhat more conventional route. A few regurgitated nu-metallish riffs aside, Smith provides incisive melodies and leads (six-minute Bright As A Fire or striking, acoustic-infused finale, Mirror And The Moon). Goodman's oddball croon/screech/growl and off-kilter lyrics are certainly unique, lending a distinct edge to what would otherwise be a largely straightforward heavy rock approach. Smith's history outside of Maiden is chequered.

He collaborated on two excellent Bruce Dickinson solo albums, but his A.S.A.P and Psycho Motel projects didn't create much interest. Awoken Broken may struggle locating a concrete audience, but kudos to a filthy rich, 50-plus metal legend for not merely playing it safe.