For those of you expecting a repeat performance of Mark Boals last album, "Ring of Fire", you're in for a bit of a surprise. While "Ring of Fire" sounded more like an Yngwie Malmsteen copycat, "Edge Of The World" is an attempt break away from the Malmsteen mold. The songs on this record are more straightforward, commercially accessible if you will. There are no fast double bass drum patterns here with keyboard or guitar performances being played at the speed of light. Boals vocals seem much more relaxed, almost to the point where his high octave range is not overused throughout a whole song. He even sounds alot like Gil Moore of "Triumph" at times. Whether these characteristics are a good thing or a welcomed change depends on whether or not you like the last Boals album or anything he's done with Yngwie or his other musical outfits. Personally, I like his last record and all his recordings with Malmsteen.

I've given this CD about three or four listens now and "Edge Of The World" has not really grown on me. To try and even find things to say about it forced me to re-listen to his last solo album. The latter half of "Edge Of The World seems to have the songs that do something for the listener but over all I don't like the way the songs are constructed. Surprisingly, Boals uses a number of different musicians on the album. He has all of the members that he used on "Ring Of Fire" and in addition three more guitar players and Vinny Appice for drums on about 90% of the album. The production and mix of the album is good, not one instrument overpowering the other. Boals even palys all the bass lines and some guitar. But in today's progressive rock world where there are only so many albums you can afford to buy, this is one that I would recommend trying before buying.