Review by Adam M on July 14, 2025.

This is a fun album that has the proper kick in the song-writing department to elevate it over the more straightforward nature of Imaginations From the Other Side.  It is a more fantastical effort and one that requires a bit more attention to digest.  It is more deep and longer than that work.

The musicianship is quite strong with tuneful guitars and a very epic vibe overall.  This leads to a huge sound and a huge improvement over the previous releases.  It is still not the most interesting power metal album, but quite humongous and compelling.

In terms of flaws, there is not as much innovation seen as other album from the genre like Helloween – Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1.  This leads to a more fantastically concentrated album and one that is more concept based.  This is still a particularly interesting work with plenty of bite.

All in all, I found this to be a very enjoyable album that was complete and an overall fun romp into the realms of power metal.  It is not the most innovative the genre has ever seen, but a great addition to power metal fans collections.  It is a solid and well=performed work.

Rating: 7.6/10

Review by Luka on June 4, 2001.

Armor clad armies swarm over the plains in a bloody battle and the resonance of Blind Guardian dominates the land. The thousands of eager metalheads gloriously emerge victorious as Blind Guardian bestows upon them one of the finest symphonic power metal albums on the planet.

Yes it’s that good. If there’s ever a power metal album that’s got it all, powerful heavy metal, symphonic elements, medieval chants and sounds, fantasy storylines... this sure as hell is it! There is a definite lack of speed, however, that is usually a power metal trademark, but this is made up for with complicated, progressive a symphonic melody and flashy lead guitars. Instead of intimidating you with speed and shredding, "Nightfall"... enchants you with melody and atmosphere. Each song passionately conveys a feeling of anything from great sorrow and irony to clear and immediate danger.
Now of course not all 22 tracks are actual, complete songs, half of them are short interludes often containing short speeches and sounds essential for holding the storyline together. The real songs are long and the lyrics elaborate. Hansi’s multi-vocal thing definitely takes time to get used to. At first I thought it was the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, the weird vocals that sound like a lame, screwed up choir. I’ve gotten used to them but, truth to tell, the singing still annoys me to a great degree. I know Hansi’s gotta great voice and he could pull it off without another 15 of his voices backing him up. They get most unbearable in "Mirror Mirror".

The one hour of music on this album is one hour spent in Middle Earth, living through J.R.R. Tolkien’s story of "The Silmarillion", such is the atmosphere created here. Many medieval instruments are used which really add to the feeling. The best tracks are "Into the Storm", "The Curse of Fëanor", and "Time Stands Still..."

Bottom Line: Complex, excellent music that creates a thoroughly medieval atmosphere. The vocals are something to get used to however, and I just can’t seem to be able to...

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Brian on February 13, 2015.

What's in a name? A Frankenstein Rooster by any other name would sound as sweet. Does a name matter when checking out a new band? Does a bands name tell what to expect musically? Sometimes a bands moniker tells you something about their music. Would you expect Slayer to play ballads or My Dying Bride to play happy songs using major chord progressions? The answer is a resounding NO! However if you never heard Blue Oyster Cult would you have any clue as to what musical style they were? I think not. So what exactly is a Frankenstein Rooster?

Founded as a side project of Elvenking guitarist Raphael Indri and drummer Camillo Collelouri, these Italians rock hard. The Nerdvrotic Sounds' Escape is a guitar showcase instrumental album in the vein of Joe Satriani, but with a firm grip in heavier melodic metal similar to The Fucking Champs. Add in some great movie samples from 'Star Wars', 'A Clockwork Orange' and others, along with a couple of electronic songs you get a memorable, challenging and entertaining release.

There are many different styles that are expressed on this release, but the most prevalent is melodic guitar metal. There are no vocals, so the instrumentation is extremely important. The mixing of some electronica, jazz, funk and rock elements makes the songs more exciting. The energy and the excellent musicianship is what really define this album. I love the mix of crunchy guitar riffs with flawless melodies and the soloing is on point. The songs have great structure to them as well. This is what can always hurt instrumental albums, if the songs lack that structure to keep the listener interested. A lot of times the guitarist just goes meandering off into some self indulgent tangent. Very little of that is experienced here.

The album opens with the title track that displays a lot of the above mention styles. Beginning with a funky opening riff then incorporating electronic elements before an all out frenzy of melodic and crushingly heavy riffs. The album continues along that same path throughout, mixing in little elements of other musical styles, but remains constant in its melodic metal approach. "Mullog" is a slower track that has very emotional guitar solos. It is one of the albums different tracks. "The Phantom of the 13th Orange" is neat little song that has electronic moments, really heavy guitars and samples Alex's soliloquy before his jump from the window in Kubrick's masterpiece 'A Clockwork Orange'. Album closer "Sevean Argagn Dance" has an all out electronic club dance beat. I love this song and I see it's 13 minutes as summing up this journey in the silly fashion that the album displays. However don't see this silliness as stupid. The late Frank Zappa asked the question "Does Humor Belong in Music?", my answer is absolutely. The ultra slick production make for a super clean sound, I usually don't like this, but in this case it only furthers the greatness of Raphael's playing. Loaded with harmonics, crunchy chugging riffs, smooth melodies and amazing arpeggios there is something to make every metal head break out the air guitar.

Frankenstein Rooster may be the worst moniker ever, but the music that's contained on The Nerdvrotic Sounds' Escape (A great album title) is worth your time. If your a fan of monstrous riffs, melody, wailing guitar solos with progressive touches then this album will appeal to you. Sprinkle in really clever, humorous, well timed samples and you have an extremely enjoyable listen. So I ask you again. What's in a name?

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Brian on February 13, 2015.

What's in a name? A Frankenstein Rooster by any other name would sound as sweet. Does a name matter when checking out a new band? Does a bands name tell what to expect musically? Sometimes a bands moniker tells you something about their music. Would you expect Slayer to play ballads or My Dying Bride to play happy songs using major chord progressions? The answer is a resounding NO! However if you never heard Blue Oyster Cult would you have any clue as to what musical style they were? I think not. So what exactly is a Frankenstein Rooster?

Founded as a side project of Elvenking guitarist Raphael Indri and drummer Camillo Collelouri, these Italians rock hard. The Nerdvrotic Sounds' Escape is a guitar showcase instrumental album in the vein of Joe Satriani, but with a firm grip in heavier melodic metal similar to The Fucking Champs. Add in some great movie samples from 'Star Wars', 'A Clockwork Orange' and others, along with a couple of electronic songs you get a memorable, challenging and entertaining release.

There are many different styles that are expressed on this release, but the most prevalent is melodic guitar metal. There are no vocals, so the instrumentation is extremely important. The mixing of some electronica, jazz, funk and rock elements makes the songs more exciting. The energy and the excellent musicianship is what really define this album. I love the mix of crunchy guitar riffs with flawless melodies and the soloing is on point. The songs have great structure to them as well. This is what can always hurt instrumental albums, if the songs lack that structure to keep the listener interested. A lot of times the guitarist just goes meandering off into some self indulgent tangent. Very little of that is experienced here.

The album opens with the title track that displays a lot of the above mention styles. Beginning with a funky opening riff then incorporating electronic elements before an all out frenzy of melodic and crushingly heavy riffs. The album continues along that same path throughout, mixing in little elements of other musical styles, but remains constant in its melodic metal approach. "Mullog" is a slower track that has very emotional guitar solos. It is one of the albums different tracks. "The Phantom of the 13th Orange" is neat little song that has electronic moments, really heavy guitars and samples Alex's soliloquy before his jump from the window in Kubrick's masterpiece 'A Clockwork Orange'. Album closer "Sevean Argagn Dance" has an all out electronic club dance beat. I love this song and I see it's 13 minutes as summing up this journey in the silly fashion that the album displays. However don't see this silliness as stupid. The late Frank Zappa asked the question "Does Humor Belong in Music?", my answer is absolutely. The ultra slick production make for a super clean sound, I usually don't like this, but in this case it only furthers the greatness of Raphael's playing. Loaded with harmonics, crunchy chugging riffs, smooth melodies and amazing arpeggios there is something to make every metal head break out the air guitar.

Frankenstein Rooster may be the worst moniker ever, but the music that's contained on The Nerdvrotic Sounds' Escape (A great album title) is worth your time. If your a fan of monstrous riffs, melody, wailing guitar solos with progressive touches then this album will appeal to you. Sprinkle in really clever, humorous, well timed samples and you have an extremely enjoyable listen. So I ask you again. What's in a name?

Rating: 8 out of 10