By Vinnie Apicella

The skies open up and the first single "Open Your Eyes" comes crashing down in a storm of emotion and electricity and The Guano Apes have arrived!  The foursome out of Germany has earned top honors in their homeland and now appears primed and ready to impact the rest of the world.  Fully deserving of their recent major label status with their catchy, diverse and oft-moody sound that belies a maturity usually not associated with such "green" acts, Guano Apes have the talent to survive in an age that sees even the best of 'em come and go in an instant.  As edgy as a song as "Open Your Eyes" can be at the beginning, just as quickly you'll be swooned with the methodically gentle feel of "Maria" and the majesty of "Rain" which soon should be recognized as their next big hit.  Don't fall too complacent however as the "Lords of the Boards" which opens with a misleading Venice-like cello, bombards you senseless with a pounding guitar blast and screaming angst!  We can go song for song on down the line to the last nine plus minute "Tribute" and in each case, we'll find something interesting and totally addictive.  Out front, Sandra moves from soft to sudden and if there's a comparison to be made with any of the current female vocalists out today, the outrageous Skin from Skunk Anansie comes immediately to mind.  The band itself also matches up equally with much the same style and design where both possess a superior quality and broad vision of what they need to take the songs to a higher level. 

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