When I was and adolescent that couldn't be fed anything but the likes of Bon Jovi & Magnum, swedish band Talisman was one of my favorite bands. It's been a while since I listened to them, so this remastered Maxi Single was a nice opportunity to plunge back into the Talisman sound. Back in 2009,Talisman's brainchild and bass player Marcel Jacob of the band took his own life due to personal and health issues :( ... RIP Marcel. At the mic there is of course the awesome Jeff Scott Soto, whose vocal prowess doesn't need any introduction; he is simply a god amongst metal singers as far as I'm concerned.

Apparently Marcel was never really satisfied with the sound of the first albums, and therefore the family and Talisman's former members decided to re-issue the band entire catalog with improved sound. I'll Be Waiting of course is one of the band's most known hits, so it makes sense to start with it. I would have rather the band re-issue an album rather than a single, but that's how is it. Now for the sound, one word comes to mind : WOW ! The new mix and mastering bring that song to a new heights and I can't wait to listen to the band's first two albums (my favorites) with this new, improved and much more dynamic sound. The Maxi also includes Standin' on Fire, Dangerous (I like these songs okay but they lack a stronger chorus in my opinion) and a live version of a I'll Be Waiting (from Sweden Rock Festival) which if anything showcases the talent of Jeff Scott Soto live and his ability to interact with the crowd.

Of course this isn't any real new material but you must experience the new sound to believe how good it actually is. The improvement is major in my opinion and rarely do remasters do anything to me, but on this one I must admit that this is an excellent job and I can't wait for more as it will be a real pleasure to re-listen to my favorite Talisman songs with such a powerful, dynamic sound. Great stuff !