A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Grade Scale adopted at MetalKings.com (starting from the lowest)

1 - Shite
2 - Could be worse
3 - Could be better
4 - Damn good
5 - Killer

4/5
ARTENSION
New Discovery
2003
Frontiers Records / CD-Maximum
progressive metal
Wow! Is it that very Artension? Can't believe it! Seems like many projects involving keyboarder and mastermind of the band Vitaly Kuprij threw him an idea and made him understand that such a complicated music Artension delivered on past albums needed to be even a little simplified. Moreover, after listening to a couple of minutes from previous efforts of the band I always wanted to switch it off right in the middle of a keyboard intro. This time the situation is much much better! The music gained some elements of European power metal - there are ballads, up- and mid-tempo tracks. Well, two more albums of such kind and maybe Artension can deliver something interesting… (Dead Ripper)

5/5
BONFIRE
Live Over Europe
2002
LZ-Music/Saturn
classic hard rock
A decade passed and we got the new live album of legendary Germans. Since 1993 the band already dissolved and was resurrected, changed several musicians but the only thing that never changed is music. Classic hard rock tracks of Bonfire-make are capable to attract anyone and remain in the heart of every listener. In concert the band has no rivals, for sure! Brilliant frontman Claus Lessmann is capable to shake any audience and prove that Bonfire has yet too-o-o-o-o much to give. Motorcycle roars and the album launches with furious "Daytona Nights"! Old hits are well-mixed with new ones, track selection is just great while the quality of recording is simply the best. Professionals as they are. Among total highlights of the disc are "Hot To Rock", "Sweet Obsession", "Proud Of My Country", "Sweet Home Alabama" and final "Until The Last Goodbye". No doubts this is the best live album of 2002! (Dead Ripper)

5/5
CONCERTO MOON
Life On The Wire
2003
Vap Music
melodic power metal
Japanese Yngwie Malmsteen of our times Norifumi Shima delivered a new album of his ill-fated project Concerto Moon. After the effort "Rain Forest" of 1999 caused a storm of positive responses throughout Europe the band released a live album… and suddenly faded away back to the Japanese market. The singer was changed, new album "Gate Of Triumph" was released followed by the re-recorded best of "Destruction And Creation". And right here we have the new symbolically-entitled "Life On The Wire" once again marked as 'Japan-only'. The disc is totally filled up to the bottom with fresh ideas, extraordinary guitar and keyboard solos and all the stuff real Malmsteen desperately needs on his at least three latest albums. By the way change of vocalists did very good for the band; the new shouter is a way better one (seems like he carefully studied English in school). Songs like "Strangers", "Stand By The Window", "Climb Up", crazy instrumental "Eye For An Eye", "No Problem", "Glorious Death" demonstrate brilliant composing talent of Shima and his neverending songwriting potential. The CD is recommended to all heavy metal fans with no limitations! The only question is - what do those idiots at European record companies think about??? (Dead Ripper)

2/5
DELIGHT
Eternity
2002
Metal Mind Productions / CD-Maximum
gothic rock
Oh God, what's that? Female vocals and groovy music. But the singer is nice. But the music is nightmarish - one guitar punch means one vocal verse. And the computer man is a genius - the album is filled up with lots of samples! Oh, on the song "I Believe" the guitar player recalled a couple of mighty riffs and pushed the pedal to the metal along with the drummer. The keyboard player also added his strong sound to a couple of places and quite on time. And the song "The Sun" is capable to make some strong and evil men cry - seems like the girl entered the world of nirvana forever. And finally the girl became very miserable on the most tragic track "Wietczny Final" when she started singing in her native Polish language. Nothing can be understood but it's just a nightmare! The style of the band is awful - either it's gothic rock, or power metal, or anything else… and the future of Delight is miserable too.. (Dead Ripper)

5/5
DUSHAN PETROSSI'S IRON MASK
Revenge Is My Name
2002
Lion Music / CD-Maximum
classic power metal
Do you like the latest record of Swedish guitar hero Yngwie Malmsteen? If not a man with strange and weird name Dushan Petrossi might become a good replacement for several latest albums of his 'spiritual brother'. In fact judging from his lyrics and music the new classical guitar hero is quite acceptable as a new rising star. By the way, the line-up is weird too. Even Russian bass player Vassily Molchanov (???) appeared on the album! The disc is full of neoclassical interludes, the rhythm section is brilliant and tight while the singer seems to be a gifted person. The most interesting tracks are "Revenge Is My Name", "The Witch Burner", instrumental "Morgana's Castle", "The Wolf And The Beast", "Hold The Light". In short, a couple more albums and some concert experience and Mr. Malmsteen will have a serious competitor, that's for sure. (Dead Ripper)

4-/5
FOREST STREAM
Tears of Mortal Solitude
2003
Earache/Soyuz Music
doom metal
I remember mentioning this second Russian band who have signed with Britain's legendary Earache Records in the context of the recent Cradle of Filth gig, and, if my memory serves me right, there I said that the live impression of FS is far more arousing than that of their studio effort, and not without a reason. First - the sound in concert was much more convincing and dense, than the accurate strumming that crawled into me long trollish ears when I heard the CD. Secondly, and no less importantly, it is the visual aspect of the perception, which is simply not to be found, when you are left one on one with the studio material in the form of zeroes and ones put on a smooth and polished round piece of metal. As a result you are left with bare music, which, with all of its beautiful sadness and quiet charms, is still boring enough to leave one wanting to howl like a hungry wolf in bad weather and to crawl the walls like a spider-man. Although that is once again very individual - if My Dying Bride is yer thing - then Forest Stream is a must-be on the next shopping-list. (Troll)

3/5
GOTTHARD
Human Zoo
2003
BMG Ariola
heavy metal
Sometime before the release of this effort the band parted ways with long-time producer Chris von Rohr who was a major influence on Gotthard music and style especially in the very beginning. Time passed by, the band changed its style, songs became more pop-oriented and more melodic but Gotthard was still a success among hard rock fans. Anyway, such a brilliant track like "Heaven" from previous album "Homerun" can't be forgotten at all. This time Swiss guys failed to develop anything so much interesting. The band once again composed lots of ballads though songs like "Janie's Not Alone", "Still I Belong To You" and "First Time In A Long Time" somehow turn out to sound like classics. And the first one is really classic probably due to violin section editions. Other admirable tracks are more or less heavy "Human Zoo", "Top Of The World", "One In A Million" and "Where I Belong". The rest of the album is quite average, songs lack sparks and bright ideas and sometimes even the feeling is gone. OK, the album is 5 to 10 percent more interesting than "Homerun", nothing more. (Dead Ripper)

5/5
GRAVE
Back From The Grave
2002
Century Media Records/FONO
old-school Swedish Death Metal with American influences
Who? Oh they did. Blimey! Drunk off their arses? What do you mean how? Oh, shut it! How do I know?! Although - the soul's still aching in the ornings, and ain't got a dime in me pocket, that's 'why?' 'Your own face'??? Have you seen your own face after a week-long Bachus-feasting session? Oh, bugger all this for a lark - the only vocals is the drunken cursing of the drummer, the singer keeps knocking his head on the cymbals, and the guitarists hit the wrong strings… Well, whatever. Okay, laters, mate. Comrades! This story is about the long-awaited creation of the old testament Swedish death metal apostles, the vets of the meat-grinding industry. It has been over a five years since the production and installation of new conveyor lines has started to ensure a more effective tormenting, dismembering, and other eatables, and now we are at the celebration opening ceremony. So what sounds, and consequently thoughts, would haunt the head of a curious passerby? Let us start with the boring truths: the sound engineering is still outstanding, and the playing techniques are yet at their highest - alas, but fact, this one. This Scandinavians are still best at what they do - 'live' (or, on second thought here - dead) music, and visualized sound patterns. No radical changes are to be found here, but still such words as 'boredom' and 'dullness' shall stay out of this review. The buzzing flow of precise, tangibly thick, mid-paced riffs is steadily striving from the relief of one song to the other, leaving a behind the breath impression of the overall album. The drumming parts, traditionally unrestricted by the genre limits, at parts would blast into 'tractor' beats in the vein of their transatlantic colleagues of Morbid Angel. Singing-wise: if only this lovely growl can be produced by a man's throat, it has to be the snowman of Himalayas, and finally the soloing - which floods into ever-impressing pools of blood. Overall - a mature and weighted spite. Applause, gentlemen! (St. Ded)

4/5
HARDLINE
II
2002
Frontiers Records / CD-Maximum
hard rock
Anyone remembers this band? No? Here's a brief biography: former Journey axeman Neal Schon decided to form a new band after Journey collapsed in the early 1990ies. When searching for new talented musicians on the L.A. scene he found wannabes Brunette. Schon's fame helped the new band to find a contract but the band changed a bit. After releasing the magnificent "Double Eclipse" effort in 1992 singer Johnny Gioeli became very famous in music business but the band split sometime after the release. In 1998 Johnny hooked with German guitar player Axel Rudi Pell and they are still together. But Johnny thought that Pell thing is not enough for him and decided to resurrect Hardline. Though Schon failed to accept his invitation Johnny found two different guitarists like his own brother Joey and ex-Storm member Josh Ramos. As a result the music became more rough. If the debut album was nice and melodic the new effort sounds very dark and dull in terms of both music and lyrics. Sometimes it sounds too much like Black Sabbath but numerous ballads do not really fit in such description. In short, the band is reborn but the music is really different. Those who like the first album better take care before giving any chances to this one. (Dead Ripper)

5/5
THE HAUNTED
One Kill Wonder
2003
Earache/Soyuz Music
deathrash
The House of Ushers is once again welcoming its guests and is already preparing them a bunch of funny surprises, such as goose-skin stories of hanged men, murderers, and other wonders of evil. Whose body is bending in agonizing twitches on the cover artwork of the new Haunted CD? Is that Casper the friendly ghost from that silly Disney fairy tale? Hey, reality is much, much worse than the world-famous studio animators used to think! Do not let the stupid Hollywood wankers swindle you! The Haunted will tell you the truth! Oh yes, they will tell, show, sing and fucking dance the truth to all of us on our graves… Why of course, and what did you expect? A snotty fairy tale? Damn right it is, but it ain't for kids, cuz it's too bad and cruel, just like the ones that damned Dane Anderson used to write. And no, the recital does not come with a kindhearted hoarse grandpa voice, but rather in a head-off guts-out stomachs-ripped screams, accompanied by thrashing guitar riffs and beastly drum-beats. You still don't like Slayer and Swedish death? We're coming for you then!!! (Troll)

5/5
KROKUS
Rock The Block
2003
WEA
classic hard rock
Triumphant return of the Swiss legend from the 1980ies! And truely triumphant! So much was talked about the band's resurrection with original singer Marc Storace and finally it happened. Apart from Marc and former guitar player Fernando von Arb the rest of the band are newcomers. About 20 years ago Krokus was considered to be another AC/DC clone. But not now - today it's totally original. AC/DC themselves have a lot to learn - catchy songs, melodic solos and touching, cracking vocals of Mr. Storace will make you jump for joy. Seems like you listen to "Let There Be Rock" but much more experienced, brilliant in recording and totally reflecting musicians' feelings. There's not a weak song on the album, all are masterpieces but the best of the best are "Mad World", "Leading The Pack", "Looking To America", "Freedom" and surely the title track "Rock The Block". OK, we're leading the pack one for all and all for one! P.S. By the way, mid-tempoed "I Want It All" has nothing to do with Queen! (Dead Ripper)

3/5
LIVING DEATH
Metal Revolution
1985/2002
Crazy Life Music / CD-Maximum
classic speed metal
Finally the CD-Maximum company issued the album is had to released in licensed version since the very beginning of cooperation with "Crazy Life Music"! Telling the truth Living Death is a legend of German speed metal scene, it started together with Helloween and Grave Digger though failing to develop something special the band split up in early 1990ies. Its first albums are still considered to be classics of the genre but they sound…. Oh, that's anther topic for discussion! The person who decided to re-issue this album (together with "Vengeance Of Hell" from 1984) on "Crazy Life Music" is completely deaf! I think those tracks were taken from vinyl LP and just cleared a bit to avoid the vinyl crunch. Though it changed nothing. Should I say anything about five live bonus tracks? No, it's better not to say anything for there are absolutely NO screams on the behind. OK, before re-issuing old classics it might be useful to find master-tapes or at least make recordings sound more or less listenable. Take into account the fact that music is very average…. (Dead Ripper)

5/5
MADDER MORTEM
Deadlands
2002
Century Media Records/FONO
Urban Rock/Nu-Metal
Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to introduce you to the third album of the Norwegian experimentalists. The stylistic addends of Gothic and Power Metal, which had been common to their debut work, were filtered out already on the previous record, giving way to new concepts and aspirations. The only more or less notable trace of the past can be smelled in the slight doom metal influences, a-la the last 7 years of My Dying Bride. The band is intensely exploring new musical scapes and in that respect the new album is a very logical continuation of its 2001 predecessor. The most interesting metamorphose of the record is the change in Agnet's artistic toolkit - her voice, which until recently has always been only tender and romantic, now it has gained more powerful and aggressive intonations, thus assuming more resemblance to Annie Lennox (yes, that lady who was in that band which we would never mention on these page, and also the one who sang in Coppola's 'Dracula'). The musical dominants here are primarily the ringing, minor guitar harmonies, filled with the pessimism of an urban humdrum depressed psyche (see late Anathema and Amorphis for more parallels), as well as the echoing stomp of non-metal power riffs a-la Korn. Keyboard have also been noticed here and there. To cut a long story short, Madder Mortem have not yet made it to the Avant-garde, but their strive for it is quite commendable, and the results so far are very positive. The songs are free, flexible, and intricate - going from slight acoustic passages, to furious blasts, and to the never-ending silence… (St. Ded)

3/5
MANTICORA
Hyperion
2002
Scarlet Records / CD-Maximum
thrash/power metal
What was the last time that you heard Metallica "Master Of Puppets"? Wanna hear its copy mixed with Blind Guardian "Nightfall In Middle Earth"? Then this band is great for your taste. In general, there's nothing special about the album - standard power metal that filled up the current market to the bottom. As usual we have a concept story about a voyage of six pilgrims to a distant planet. Another parallel with "Nightfall" is that the story is based on a book of American writer Dan Simmons. But it all turned out very boring and dull, nothing special. Wanna a guitar solo? Here it is, the speed is so fast that all strings are almost torn apart. Wanna a drum intro? The drummer will hammer in a way you won't like to hear again. Though interesting ideas are nowhere to be found on this album! Second-hand European power metal with more or less average ideas. (Dead Ripper)

5/5
MARDUK
World Funeral
2003
Regain Records
black death metal
Had anyone told me some 4 years ago, that I would get my kicks out of listening to Marduk, I would have most likely laughed in the face of the joker, praising his original sense of humor. But, seems like indeed you never know the way of God, for the old-man has finally been told to go and blow himself, while me - I mounted the panzer cavalry and shot off headlong down the highway to hell, in order not to miss the 'funeral of the planet'. The album spins off with a pretty standard high-speed black metal number 'With Satan and Victorious Weapons', that has a slight late-Gehenna touch to it, but is at the same time very typically Marduk. The real fun, however, starts on the second track 'Bleached Bones': the super-thick sound and a slow-paced sticky riff, which alone can peel the flesh off a battlefield of corpses, exposing the gleaming whiteness of the skeletons. This shuffle of slow and hi-tempo songs continues throughout the CD, reminding of a deadly cobra, that would momentarily hover over its victim, only to then spear down in one lethal blow. Excellent! And to finish the night comes guess what? - You got that right, a funeral march! Although, I do doubt there will be too many of us to hear it, when it really starts playing. (Troll)

5/5
MICHAEL MONROE
Watcha Want
2003
Steamhammer
classic hard/punk rock
Telling the truth, I've been desperately waiting for this album! If you never heard anything performed by legendary Finnish guy Michael Monroe no matter if it's his solo albums or Hanoi Rocks stuff you will like him from the very first note. No band or musician nowadays plays such strong and powerful music! Each new release of Monroe might make any hard rock freak jump for joy. This album is no exception. And nevermind the fact that only four and a half songs out of 13 (!) on "Watcha Want" are covers. Tracks were originally done by some rock'n'rollers or punkers. I can't say I heard all originals but Monroe made them very funny, mighty and cheerful with high rock'n'roll energy. The best songs are "Do Anything You Wanna Do", "Right Here, Right Now", "What Love Is", "Life's A Bitch And Then You Live", "Jimmy Brown" and "Hey, There's No Way To Say Goodbye". The album is HIGHLY recommended to all fans of hard rock and heavy metal - it will knock your socks off!! (Dead Ripper)

5/5
NAPALM DEATH
The Order Of The Leech
2002
Spitfire Records/Soyuz Music
napalmic death metal
Hear another baby let out its pissed off yell in the huge nest of the metal's extremest founding father. 'Tis wrong when they say that with too many kids in the family they do not have enough attention. The album did turn out just great. Having once caused quite a stir and spawning their radical ideas into the heads of the masses, the buys have then cooled off and become sort of more… sightly. Several years ago some were even fearing that the Napalm Death have lost their initial zest, largely because of the whirlpool in the lineup, although thanks god (or whoever it is, depending on your own beliefs), contrary to the famous Lafontaine fable - they did not end up as a swan, crawfish and a pike. As far as speed and aggression are concerned, the creative ideas of the band are easily described with a parabola, i.e. the actual stage has the grade skyrocketing, and the high-speed passages have become even longer than on the previous 'Enemy of the Music Business'. I cannot help but admire the knock-outing, boiling sound - thanks to which, as well as the more thoughtful compositional structuring the album has become a lot more solid and integrated. The crazy industrial frenzy, the psychopath deathcoteque - that's what it is. The drumwork balances between grindcore, punk, and brutal death, and of course the very special treat of the record - the vox: a groaning yell of an exalted steelworker! Ideological, expressive and utterly professional. (St. Ded)

2/5
PHANTOM LORD
Circle Of The Wasted
2002
Black Lotus Records / CD-Maximum
power metal
For Christ sake, how many European power metal bands are out there? They all have three great negative things - awful recording quality, lack of bright ideas and wildest accent. The new 'talented' formation is called Phantom Lord, a Greek one. And surely all the three elements are here! Moreover, the guitar player does not even know how to tune his instrument - he just plays it as crazy as he can or caresses three strings at best. Sometimes it's really painful to hear that all those musicians praise Helloween's masterpiece "Keeper Of The Seven Keys" that provide major influence on their so-to-say music. These guys better stay in basements in Athens drinking beer and having fun with girls listening to their favorite music. That's how they would never record such an ugly album… It's not the second-hand power metal, it's the fifth-hand one! (Dead Ripper)

4/5
SERAPHIM
The Soul That Never Dies
2001
Magnum Music / CD-Maximum
power
Yes, there are still girls in Taiwan, who could catch a spitfire dragon in midair, sing in the National Opera, and shine as a rock star - all in one. Pay - the lead singer of Seraphim - is exactly the girl - fragile, miniature, she boasts an entirely brilliant coloratura soprano. Just as her Finnish colleague Tarja Turunen she also studies vocals in Germany and dreams of playing on one stage with Edguy. Well the oriental twin-brother of Nightwish has fully fledged and presented its totally integrate and unique album to the listener. The bright chatoyance of Pay's vocals nicely contrasts with the deep growling of the second male lead singer Jax. The main hit of the album is definitely the high-speed "Immortal Silence". On the down side of things, the CD does get a bit boring towards its second half, apparently the guys did not have enough of real smashers for the debut, but I dare say they do have a big future. (Debbie Boink)

3/5
SHORTIE
Worthless Smiles
2003
Earache/Soyuz Music
emo-core
A pretty untypical release for Earache, and, to be 100% honest with you, a totally useless one for this label really. I do not know what (or how much $$$) on Earth could have pushed the English company managers into signing this entirely trendy and totally faceless, although quality recorded emo-core act to it roster, but yes Earache now may expect to get some MTV airing - for the first time in Grudd knows how many years. Well, okay, that's their thing and who am I to advise them, right? Right but let's see what their own promo dept has to say about Shortie: "Intense emo-core from Sacramento, CA, aggressive and melodic in equal measure. Simply put, Shortie play emotionally-charged songs that stick in your head." - end quote. Well, I do agree. But what good is this? (Troll & some dude from Earache promo dept)

5/5
SINNER
There Will Be Execution
2003
Nuclear Blast
heavy metal
WOW! After thinking about his 'sinful' life Mat Sinner finally decided to resurrect the legendary band. And he really made it bringing back axeman Tom Naumann and having Henny Wolter staying in the band though the latter left Primal Fear. The result is thunderous! Never in its career Sinner recorded such a strong album since "Judgement Day" of 1996! Every song is a true masterpiece - just listen to "Higher Level Of Violence", "There Will Be Execution", "God Raises The Dead", "Liberty Of Death" or "Black Monday". Even though lyrics are too dark the album sounds very balanced and tight. It has enough up-tempo tracks while the final ballad "Crown Of Thorns" sounds a bit fatal but extremely melodic. By the way, Mr. Wolter finally managed to contribute to the songwriting process and it added some Thunderhead-type melodies to the traditional Sinner sound. In general, Mat has to work in Sinner for many decades in future for the band still can do excellent things! P.S. The limited 2CD edition of the album has two remixes, namely, "Roses Of Yesterday" and "Troublemaker" from albums of 1995 and 1996 as well as a great cover-version of Metallica "Wherever I May Roam". The latter is highly recommended to all fans of legendary Bay Area thrashers. (Dead Ripper)

2/5
TERROR 2000
Faster Disaster
2002
Scarlet Records / CD-Maximum
fast melodic thrash of new school
-Okay, lads, emulating the leaders and following the authoritative examples is quite commendable, but, pardon me, marching step in step with the fashionable mass is really a different point. That is I mean, forgetting the fact that aside of the intellectual aspect, metal is also about ideology and sincerity. Agreed, bands like the Haunted, the Crown and many other do play extremely well and catchingly, but who and why would ever think that the works of these bands are a call to produce clones? I mean taking a billet in the form of the public-appraised stylistics and a pack of beats and riffs, tested by the aforementioned renown bands, and then putting a Terror 2000 label on it, finishing the result with some truly cosmetic alterations is nothing to be proud of. All of the moves are easily guessable and moreover there is some deja-vu to it too. It is fast, intense and even technical - no problem with that, but each rhythm shift and (more or less) original passage (such as an "unexpedcted" 3-5-note-long solo in 1 or 2 places in the song) is presented with so much pathos, that it just becomes boring. All the solo parts are far-fetched and forced, the vox too are not making an intended impression, and the cardboard drums sound is plain dull. It is clean and precise, but tasteless. I do have to agree that compared to the band's debut effort this one at least has SOME ideas of its own, but is that enough yet? There's also a good commercial move - the Japanese bonus track is generously decorated with romantic keyboards (the only place where they have those on the record) which will surely cater the tastes of the Japanese audience, who love them large-hearted heroes… ;) Hm… What's up with me anyways? Okay-okay, it's not THAT awful. But next time write your own music!!! ;) (St. Ded)

2/5
UNRULY CHILD
III
2003
Underground Sympony/CD-Maximum
Frontiers Records / CD-Maximum
Judging from its name that's the third album of this band. All the way through those Americans had troubles all over - the first album was released in 1992 but failed thanks to Mr. Kurt Cobain. The second one came out in 1998 but failed again due to extremely bad promotion. More, the first singer became a female while the second one could not stand the band's attitude to him. But two members of Unruly Child, namely guitarist Bruce Gowdy and keyboarder Guy Allison, managed to overcome everything. They found new singer Philip Bardowell and recorded… it's hard to say that's the new album. It seems more like a mid-album like the previous one "The Basement Demos" was for many songs seem to be written for the first album (at least the songwriting style is very similar - don't know exactly). Though the singer is a brand new guy. By the way, the three musicians invited to guest to the album and did everything on their own. By the way, there's nothing special about that new singer - he sings like a windmill. Guess that's the third fall of Unruly Child… (Dead Ripper)

4-/5
USURPER
Twilight Dominion
2003
Earache/Soyuz Music
balls-metal
Ho-ho-fucking-ho! These guys are the best, swear to heavens! I mean, just look at their song-titles: 'Metal-Lust', 'I am the Usurper', 'Invincible Overlords', 'Struggle of Tyrants' - it doesn't get any better than this, does it? Usurper are the representation of what Manowar could have become, had they started with death metal in the first place. The rough and assured guitar riffs, mid-paced beats, and the stupidest possible lyrics you could ever imagine. One would get the impression that over the past 20 years, nothing whatsoever has been going on the metal scene, and we are still in the middle of the crazed-arsed 80ies, with their naive and almost fanatic beliefs into the ideals of a true metalhead. At the same time, I do have to agree that had it not been for this, Usurper would have most likely been left unnoticed, because despite the undoubted quality, their material may hardly be classified as original. It works better the way it is I guess. (Troll)