Tony Martin & Dario Mollo - The Third Cage

[Tim0]

Any thoughts on this album?

It's out on spotify and elsewhere, I gave it a couple of listens and was quite impressed by Tony's performance, his vocals are still great!

However, the songwriting and the sound in general are fairly unsurprising, classis stuff. OK but nothing great I'd say.

[J Hillenburg]

I reviewed it recently for Wormwood Chronicles and got the chance to do an email interview with Martin. Both will be published soon. The album has some uninspiring moments, but you're quite right when you say Tony is still singing at a high level. It's an album worth picking up.

[WDIV]

I'm a bit disappointed with this one, compared to the prior two Cage albums. I was only able to get thru it twice before I put it back on the shelf. 'll revisit it again I'm sure.

[Charger]

Finally got my copy today! This is bit heavier all in all than the previous Cage albums, granted not as heavy as the opening track, the absolutely AWESOME Wicked World, which is by far the best song on the album, and perhaps one of the best songs Tony Martin has ever done...

I'll be writing a full review after few more listens (perhaps next week) but so far I'm really really liking this one. And Tony sounds absolutely AWESOME through out the album!

[Van Sabbath]

I thought it was a pretty good album. Tony and Dario did a great job. I'd recommend getting it for sure.

[Relic]

Hearing the first Cage album 13 years ago, I was quite impressed. I had high expectations for the second one, but found it disappointing. I'd say this third one is crappier still. I doubt there will ever be a fourth one, at least there shouldn't be. The first one's still a classic though.

[Charger]

Just finished writing the review of this album so I might as well share it with you guys as well...Read it or don't...

It’s the wicked world of The Third Cage!

The collaboration between Tony Martin and Dario Mollo has lasted for over 13 years, but just now have they released their thrid album together. It has been 10 years since their previous album, the awesome Cage 2, so naturally expectations were incredibly high.

The album has a much heavier feel to it than the previous two, which surely is not a bad thing. Dario has found a whole new sound in his playing but at the same time managed to keep his signature style, which isn’t something that everyone can do.
Tony’s singing on this album almost beyond what words can describe. The fireworks start already in the opening track, the heavy as fuck Wicked World. He absolutely shines on it. All in all I’d even go as far as say this album contains his finest vocal preformance…EVER. And that is saying a lot considering he has sung on such incredible albums as Headless Cross and Cross Purposes and the fact that the former took place over 20 years ago!

As stated the album starts off really really heavily. Wicked World is without a doubt the heaviest Cage track ever and features a catchy chorus and stellar vocal preformance by Tony.
The same continues with the funnily entitled Cirque Du Freak which rises to be the best track of the album! Both musically and lyrically, what a way to start the album!

Then comes the first bit more mellow song Oh My Soul, which proves the versatility of Tony as both singer and lyricist. This also gives Dario the chance to do a great almost bluesy solo which is without a doubt the high light of the song.
One Of The Few has more of an old school hard rock feel to it. This probably feels most like Cage 2 than any of the other songs. Perhaps weaker point of the album, but considering the over all quality that doesn’t mean it’s a bad song…

Still In Love With You and Can’t Stay Here are both bit similar in theme and they flow brilliantly together. The former starts off with a short keyboard intro and then goes off to this incredible riff which again is bit different. Tony’s singing again is stellar as is his vocal melodies.
Can’t Stay Here starts with a bit distorted guitar intro and then goes straight into the verse. Again I cannot do anything but be amazed by Tony’s vocal preformance, he brings this otherwise bit bland song truly alive.

Wardance is another true high point of the album. The first of the two bit longer more epical songs. The heavy yet groovy riff that opens the song has a clear Tony Iommi feel to it. The vocal melody on this one is probably among the best one’s Tony has ever done especially during the angry sounding chorus! He brings a whole lot of energy and emotion to it. This is one of those songs that would be perfect for a live environment. The solo section which ends the song proves again why Dario Mollo is without a doubt one of the greatest guitar players of the world.

Don’t Know What It Is About You is a love song with a twist. The lyrics could be interpreted as being sung in the point of view of a stalker or maybe even a sexually motivated serial killer, but one could take more literal meaning from them as well. Another rather heavy riff accompanies both the verses and chorus.
Blind Fury is another rather angry sounding song and it’s lyrically yet another high point. Tony really has out done himself on this album.

The album closes with the other long epical song Violet Moon, which surprisingly is a ballad, bit in the way of Guardian Angel on Cage 2. A rather interesting way to close the album, but the song packs in so much emotion that it actually works really well! Both lyrically and musically this reminds me a bit of the Rainbow classic Catch The Rainbow with a bit of Rainbow Eyes thrown in. Tony proves his incredible versatility and provides a very touching preformance.

The traditional tribute song is missing though. I was hoping for maybe a Rainbow song, would love to hear Tony and Dario’s take on The Man On The Silver Mountain, 16th Century Greensleeves or maybe even Stargazer!

I just cannot stop being in awe about Tony’s vocal preformance, the man is almost 55 years old and he doesn’t sound a day over 25! What ever he has done to keep his voice this tight should be made mandatory for every singer out there!
Dario also has found new depths in his playing and something has clearly woken up a beast of heaviness within.

Overall the high expectations were not let down byt this album, since it is without a doubt the best Cage album to date. Both Tony and Dario truly shine and they clearly have found their A game! Let’s just hope they’ll keep working together and that it won’t take another 10 years for them to do another album!
The world is a bit less wicked place with this album in it…

* * * * ½

[RichDunn]

Great album from Dario Mollo and Tony Martin I think this album is better then the first two "Cage" albums, all the songs are great but my favorites are Wicked World, Cirque Du Freak, Oh My Soul, Still In Love With You, Wardance and Blind Fury, if your a fan of Tony's albums when he was in Black Sabbath or his solo album "Scream" you'll love this album, buy it.

[TYR66]

Just finished writing the review of this album so I might as well share it with you guys as well...Read it or don't...

It’s the wicked world of The Third Cage!

The collaboration between Tony Martin and Dario Mollo has lasted for over 13 years, but just now have they released their thrid album together. It has been 10 years since their previous album, the awesome Cage 2, so naturally expectations were incredibly high.

The album has a much heavier feel to it than the previous two, which surely is not a bad thing. Dario has found a whole new sound in his playing but at the same time managed to keep his signature style, which isn’t something that everyone can do.
Tony’s singing on this album almost beyond what words can describe. The fireworks start already in the opening track, the heavy as fuck Wicked World. He absolutely shines on it. All in all I’d even go as far as say this album contains his finest vocal preformance…EVER. And that is saying a lot considering he has sung on such incredible albums as Headless Cross and Cross Purposes and the fact that the former took place over 20 years ago!

As stated the album starts off really really heavily. Wicked World is without a doubt the heaviest Cage track ever and features a catchy chorus and stellar vocal preformance by Tony.
The same continues with the funnily entitled Cirque Du Freak which rises to be the best track of the album! Both musically and lyrically, what a way to start the album!

Then comes the first bit more mellow song Oh My Soul, which proves the versatility of Tony as both singer and lyricist. This also gives Dario the chance to do a great almost bluesy solo which is without a doubt the high light of the song.
One Of The Few has more of an old school hard rock feel to it. This probably feels most like Cage 2 than any of the other songs. Perhaps weaker point of the album, but considering the over all quality that doesn’t mean it’s a bad song…

Still In Love With You and Can’t Stay Here are both bit similar in theme and they flow brilliantly together. The former starts off with a short keyboard intro and then goes off to this incredible riff which again is bit different. Tony’s singing again is stellar as is his vocal melodies.
Can’t Stay Here starts with a bit distorted guitar intro and then goes straight into the verse. Again I cannot do anything but be amazed by Tony’s vocal preformance, he brings this otherwise bit bland song truly alive.

Wardance is another true high point of the album. The first of the two bit longer more epical songs. The heavy yet groovy riff that opens the song has a clear Tony Iommi feel to it. The vocal melody on this one is probably among the best one’s Tony has ever done especially during the angry sounding chorus! He brings a whole lot of energy and emotion to it. This is one of those songs that would be perfect for a live environment. The solo section which ends the song proves again why Dario Mollo is without a doubt one of the greatest guitar players of the world.

Don’t Know What It Is About You is a love song with a twist. The lyrics could be interpreted as being sung in the point of view of a stalker or maybe even a sexually motivated serial killer, but one could take more literal meaning from them as well. Another rather heavy riff accompanies both the verses and chorus.
Blind Fury is another rather angry sounding song and it’s lyrically yet another high point. Tony really has out done himself on this album.

The album closes with the other long epical song Violet Moon, which surprisingly is a ballad, bit in the way of Guardian Angel on Cage 2. A rather interesting way to close the album, but the song packs in so much emotion that it actually works really well! Both lyrically and musically this reminds me a bit of the Rainbow classic Catch The Rainbow with a bit of Rainbow Eyes thrown in. Tony proves his incredible versatility and provides a very touching preformance.

The traditional tribute song is missing though. I was hoping for maybe a Rainbow song, would love to hear Tony and Dario’s take on The Man On The Silver Mountain, 16th Century Greensleeves or maybe even Stargazer!

I just cannot stop being in awe about Tony’s vocal preformance, the man is almost 55 years old and he doesn’t sound a day over 25! What ever he has done to keep his voice this tight should be made mandatory for every singer out there!
Dario also has found new depths in his playing and something has clearly woken up a beast of heaviness within.

Overall the high expectations were not let down byt this album, since it is without a doubt the best Cage album to date. Both Tony and Dario truly shine and they clearly have found their A game! Let’s just hope they’ll keep working together and that it won’t take another 10 years for them to do another album!
The world is a bit less wicked place with this album in it…

* * * * ½

good review ! excellent album ,not better than the first IMO . I also want to hear Tony sing "Stargazer " and/or "A Light in the Black" !! great sure .