Rise

Description

The Answer are releasing a 10th Anniversary reissue of their most successful Rise album which sold over 100,000 copies worldwide including almost 40,000 in the UK & Eire. The original album was never released on vinyl and part of this reissue package will include a limited numbered 180g vinyl, a 12" hard book with 32 bound pages of extended artwork plus exclusive never before heard recordings including all of their 2004 Rise demos from the original album. Rise gave the band, who hail from Northern Ireland, a hit not only in the UK but in other key international territories, notably Japan where they sold over 10,000 copies in one day. The 2006 album set them on their way to not only performing shows with the likes of AC/DC, Deep Purple, Whitesnake, The Rolling Stones and Paul Rodgers but also headlining shows across the world. Classic Rock magazine named The Answer 'Best New Band' in 2005 and in the same year Jimmy Page, who attended several concerts, also gave them his seal of approval. As support for this release the band will be performing 3 sold out headline club shows in Belfast, Manchester and London as well as supporting Whitesnake across Europe for most of summer 2016. They will also perform Rise live on the main stage at this years UK Ramblin Man Fair Festival. Review: as double CD with an accompanying CD with non-album singles like Keep Believin' - Rise, the first album (from 2006) of The Answer [in Europe that is, for the US they decided to present second album Everyday Demons as debut], has been 3 times (re)released in the meantime, as the original album, as double CD with an accompanying CD with non-album singles like Keep Believin', outtakes and part of their live performance in Tokyo, to promote this album, which was in Japan a big success,. (the complete Tokyo live show is recorded and released as a bonus CD a part of the deluxe release of Every Demons)), and finally to celebrate the first decade of the album again as double CD, with the original album remixed and an extra CD with for most part other tracks (demo'\s, singles, etc) than on the first extra CD. Somewhat confusingly all together, maybe. Anyway, as I have listened intensely to Rise in the original setting it is another experience to hear the same tracks in an alternative way of recording. They still sound fresh and new, but at the same time well known. At this moment I'd rather stick with the original but it is nice to hear the songs in another way. The second disc offers more surprises, with plenty of new material. The superb single "Keep Believin'" was omitted from Rise because they had already so much other good songs, but it is a delight that this song is available in album format (again), a slightly different take than the first one on the 2nd disc. Another strong song is "So Cold", it should have been included on Rise also. From the Rise sessions is taken "Tonight", which in a much heavier version has seen the light of day on Everyday Demons. There is a even the track "Rise" it self as album closer, the album title song, which was not used on the album of that name. Remarkable is that The Answer plays loud and electric music on both of the first albums, while guitar player Paul Mahon has proven to be a stunning acoustic guitarist either. An example is "Take it Easy", an enjoyable folky stomp, [reminiscent of Led Zeppelin's "Black Country Woman" on "Physical Graffiti"], available in two versions but I cannot hear much difference. However, not only as a document of how this band literally has risen from nothing to a group with a strong following, world wide, but also as a collection of well crafted rock songs, Rise is one of the most stunning debut albums ever. Since then 10 years are gone but surely not wasted, The Answer is still live and kicking, with the same line up, and has recently released their sixth studio album Solas. Review: Five Stars - Top band brilliant