Shining Black

There are lots of good bands out there, who doesn't make bad music. They release many good albums, and then after 15 they release a compilation. It depends on the band, is that compilation justified. It's quite hard to say on Tarot's case. It is known fact that the most of the "best of" records are total rip-off, especially when they are released with short period of time from the previous one.

Tarot has always standed comparison with the bigger bands, and this compilation proves it. Two cd's full of good heavy metal. Nothing more, nothing less. And when listening to Marco's singing, it's not a big wonder why he is in Nightwish today. This record has been originally released back in 1998. It had the same artwork and name, but different tracklist and one cd. Besides, it was released only in Japan. But even that wasn't the first time when Tarot released something only in the land of the rising sun (To Live Again, 1994).

And here's the Tarot biography in a nutshell: The boys got a deal back in 1986 with the assist of finnish pop singer Kirka (!) and record two albums before they vanish. Some years later they have a comeback, and after few other albums, they fade away again in 1998. This compilation sums up all those years. The cd-one compiles the period between 1986-1993 and the cd-two 1994-2003.

The first four tracks are from the debut album Spell of Iron. Two of these four tracks were released as singles (Wings of darkness & Love's not made for my kind). Even here dominate the familiar Tarot elements: Cold and twisted guitar-sound and Marco Hietala's unique vocals, though they far away from today's glory. The twin guitar attacks dominate the scene, and the solos are just crazy, and there are lots of them.

There are minor improvements on the second album Follow me into Madness, was released two years later. The guitar-sound has changed a bit (but it's still cold and twisted) and there are more meloncholic guitar parts. But there aren't no bigger changes. Four tracks have been picked from this album.

But the time handled all traditional heavy metal bands with the iron fist, and Tarot among others had to step aside from the way of speed/thrash explosion. Five years were spent in silence. During that time, the band's line-up changed a bit. The second guitarist Mako H stepped aside and he was replaced by keyboardist Janne Tolsa, and he is responsible of the biggest change on Tarot's career. The keyboard parts gave more dimensions to Tarot's material. First album after the break and with the new keyboardist was To Live Forever, released in 1993. The music is darker, but nonetheless good. There are five songs from here that album.

Tarot became big in Japan in those days, so their first live album "To Live Again" (1994) was released only in there, though it was recorded in Helsinki's Tavastia club. The album has ever been released elsewhere, so it's been hard to get it's material. Ten songs out of 16 were on the Stigmata's bonus cd. Here are three songs, but still there aren't all the songs (Iron Stars is also on Stigmata). Children of the Grave is good choice for cover, and the recording is clear.

On 1995's Stigmata the music got even more keyboard-orientated. Stigmata contained two cd's. First one was the studio release and the second had ten songs from the To Live Again album. The band recorded new versions of the songs "I don't Care Anymore" & "Descendants of Power" on the same sessions. Here are four songs from Stigmata plus these two re-recordings.

For the Glory of Nothing (1998) was a clear sequal to Stigmata. The are actually no changes between these two albums, except that the For the Glory of Nothing is slightly heavier. Marco's vocals are even driven through the machine! Five tracks are picked from here.

There are two more songs. The first one is Accept-cover of Generation Clash. Generation Clash is the best Accept-song for Tarot. Tarot's version doesn't need to be ashamed, when compared with the original version. Tarot's vision is heavier, and this track featured on the Accept tribute-album. The last track is acoustic Jethtro Tull cover Locomotive Breath. The Tarot-version is, if not good, moderate at least.

Because some albums are hard to get, this compilation is must for anyone, who appreciates the good heavy metal. But if you're lucky enough to have all the releases, don't bother.