![[Image]](../../cd_images/doubleeclipse.jpeg)
More Info: http://www.declipse.f9.co.uk/
Verdict (& Rating): Mixed fortunes (60%)
Double Eclipse is twin brothers Phil (vocals) and Alan (drums & programming) Hackney. They first started writing songs together and using the moniker Double Eclipse in 1994. Their inspiration were bands like Whitesnake, Foreigner and Hardline (where I guess the name came from). By 1996 they had recruited guitarist MikaelJohannesson, which was followed by the self-funded album, "Have It Your Way", in 1997, which in turn led to the band being signed to Now & Then. However, things didn't work out with the label and the band released the album independently through their own label, Thirteen 772 Music in 1999.
This second album was recorded in the summer of 2002. Alongside Alan and Phillip the album features long time collaborator Mikael Johannesson (lead/ rhythm guitar), Richard Spencer (lead/ rhythm guitar) and David Gotteri (bass guitar). Co-producer Phil Abram, guitarist with The Good Sons, contributes acoustic guitar to a number of tracks.
The first track, "Burn", is a surprising heavy start to the album for me. With the, at least, initial inspirations listed above, I was expecting something AOR meets hard rock. Instead, we get a Led Zep meets Thunder bluesy track played in a metallic hard rock style. This track features guitarist Mikael Johannesson who plays in a similiar vein to Yngwie Malmsteen. All the tracks featuring Mikael ("Temptation", "Don't Tell Me Lies", "Self Esteem" and "Invisible Blithe"), feature the same heavy duty rocking, with some meaty riffs and frantic fretwork. On these tracks Phil's vocals sound forced (similar to Ozzy's & Axl's styles) and weak. They don't seem that well matched to the heavy material.
In fact, Mikael departed the band during the recording of the album. With the arrival of his replacement, Richard Spencer, the band seem to have had a rethink on their style and the other tracks on the album adopt a lighter style which I actually think suits the band better. "See You On The Other Side" is power ballad that reminds me of Thunder. "Reason Why" is another ballad that adds piano to the mix, but unfortuantely it gets a bit lost with everything else going on.
There is an expression which says that you should always save the best 'til last and Double Eclipse, whether by design or not, seem to have done just that. "Take It All Away" is a slower track that shows the band displaying greater sensitivity than elsewhere. This track flows well and there is a sense that the guitarist is enhancing the music, rather than trying to stamp his own signature on every track. "Change To Make It Right" is a longer track that starts with some acoustic guitar. The song writing is more adept and the music has more of a sense of dynamic content. Yet, the band still retain the chunky riffs that are their trademark. The album closes with a Led Zep style acoustic guitar ballad. Whereas I have a few reservations about the vocals on the heavier tracks, they seem very at home on these less agressive tracks.
