My first impression of ‘Rocket Ride’ is that of worry. Here lies the 2006 follow-up to 2004’s Hellfire Club – a fun, but ultimately maturity-lacking album I feel – with a cartoon-based cover showing a manic jester and female companion taking a rocket ride through the realms of space. Couple this impression with the one-dimensional appearance of ‘Superheroes’, the title track of the EP released in late 2005, and take into account the almost-childish nature of Edguy’s tours (as well documented on the Edguy DVD), I worryingly take on the prejudice that many share – Edguy have lost their bold touch from their earlier albums and are now simply a joke metal band.

Immediately I realised ‘Sacrifice’ was not what I had expected. From a spacious opening to its status as longest track on the album, it sets a steady platform for Sammet’s lyrics, drilled into your skull with bursts from the Ludwig/Sauer/Exxel/Bohnke artillery. Delicious parts for the piano and guitars, as well as finely placed strings make this a worthy ‘epic’ track.

Tearing into the second track, we’re presented with the title offering for the album. Snappy, fast-paced and filled with emphatic ‘woah’s, ‘Rocket Ride’ is typical Edguy stock – designed to light up the crowd and make them go ‘woah’ too. Towards the end of the track, I feel something is lacking – the guitar solo doesn’t seem too right – and the following track ‘Wasted Time’ takes a while to bring you back to the group. However it does give you time to focus on the quite bleak lyrics– echoed by the whole group’s cry of “do we need the pain, waking up the in black tomorrow?” I soon realise the deception in the album’s jokey cover and marvel the heartfelt feelings unleashed in this album.

As I found out from Sammet himself, ‘Matrix’ is about the different sides to his life – the rockstar/the private life and so forth – and the need to be on both sides, often at once. Where does the real person fit in? An early favourite track of mine. Destined to be a live favourite, I read ‘Return to the Tribe’ as Edguy being ‘at home’ when they play live with their fans. It may of course hold some more personal meaning to Sammet and co., but it deserves to be a triumphant anthem for band and fans alike.

At the halfway point of the album, we enter the atmospheric ‘Asylum’: “in a world where the broken dance with broken dreams”. Running at over seven-and-a-half minutes, it is a further reminder of the developed-yet-flawless performance by the whole band; the instrumental section in particular shows sustained professionalism on the part of the guitarists, bassist and drummer. I find it hard to believe a true ‘joke band’ would stick out such a long section without falling apart.

I initially would have preferred the evocative Superheroes EP track ‘Blessing in Disguise’ rather than the next ballad ‘Save Me’. The latter is a simple hard rock ballad that allows you to return from ‘Asylum’ and feel on familiar ground. After repeated listens I found this a necessary ‘breather’ from the tension in the previous song. Ultimately it is a strong track harking back to Edguy’s musical forebears. I won’t be surprised if it emerges as an acoustic number at some point in Edguy’s live career.

‘Catch of the Century’ and ‘Out of Vogue’ both showcase clear trains of thought from Sammet, through pulsing rhythms and riffs that are by now instantly familiar as Edguy’s sound. By the time the already familiar ‘Superheroes’ from the advanced EP makes its appearance on the album, it seems abundantly clear that – although tongue-in-cheek it may be – it is fully deserving of the band’s performance.

Then along comes ‘Trinidad’ and does what I think all the final tracks on good albums should do – it lifts the album just a little bit higher than you may expect. What has so far been evidence of Edguy’s rightful status as a force to be reckoned with in the world of Heavy Metal, ‘Trinidad’ is Edguy’s letter to that world, letting us know they’re having a great time. Filled with tropical beats and sounds, the song will undoubtedly become a sing-a-long favourite towards the end of their live shows.

‘Fucking With Fire’ is labelled as the ‘bonus track for unlimited AND limited edition ONLY J’. I think it is up to the listener to decide if it fits in with the rest of the album. I think you can either take it or leave it – it is certainly Edguy – but, unless you’re feeling particularly generous, it doesn’t need to be on the album.

Although Sammet himself stresses the lack of overall story with the album – the track order was changed many, many times – I can’t help but imagine my own journey with the music; perhaps a fortunate side-effect of Sammet’s evocative writing. Yet, as insisted, the tracks are stand-alone entities that simply gel well in this arrangement. As we enter the age of mp3s and less call for strict CD-order playing, you have to admire the fact that, played in any order – be it on your desktop or mp3 player – each and every song stands up for itself.

‘Rocket Ride’ isn’t a particularly groundbreaking metal album – it clings loosely to the conventions of well-rehearsed melodic heavy metal – instead, the album secures and re-enforces Edguy’s foothold as one of the most entertaining metal bands you can hear today. The album injects the genre with another dose of Tobias Sammet’s brilliant writing – some of his best lyrics so far are evident on this album – coupled with the band’s thirst for peerless heavy metal in performance. ‘Rocket Ride’ brings together the promise shown in Sammet’s solo project ‘Avantasia’ with mature lyrics and an ear for drama, and neatly ties this in with Edguy’s strongest ability – that of a rock-solid arena for their music to unfold in, and plenty of enthusiasm for playing and performing some of the most enjoyable tracks in recent heavy metal history.

Edguy are a band you can always journey with. Stick the CD on as you set off on a long coach or train journey, and you will ride with Edguy all the way. You don’t need to focus hard or listen intently – you can relax in the knowledge that whatever you are feeling as you travel on the Rocket Ride, Edguy are there to entertain you along the way.

Standout Tracks:  Sacrifice, Matrix, Asylum, Trinidad.