It would have been easy to write about the debut album which came out in 2005.
But.
How do you follow up the debut album that took a whole lifetime to write and achieved 5x Platinum certification in Australia and Gold certifications in the North American market?
That was the question facing Andrew Stockdale, Chris Ross and Myles Heskett.
But something happened within the band, as in August 2008, Ross and Heskett left. Replaced by others who I can’t even remember.
Did it matter if the original guys left?
Stockdale wrote the songs and he’s still there.
“Cosmic Egg” came out in 2009. The debut album gave the band a 4 year victory lap.
But.
Sales of the album didn’t get anywhere near the debut album even though the album was critically acclaimed. And the album does have some kick ass songs.
I overdosed on “Sundial”.
It’s the best track on the album.
A Sabbath/Hendrix like riff all fuzzed up with the wah on starts it all off and then the Chorus chords ring out while a single note piano lead plays.
And now it seems no time at all
The sundial wonders
How could you see nothing at all?
The sundial wonders on
Its probably the best Chorus that didn’t appear on an Ozzy album.
Make sure you crank it.
“In The Morning” sounds like a Zeppelin cut musically and a Beatles cut vocally.
“10,000 Feet” is a foot stomper.
“Cosmic Egg” has the foundations of “Roadhouse Blues”.
“Pilgrim” has that “let’s hit the road Jack ain’t gonna come back no more” vibe.
And then there is the closer.
“Violence Of The Sun” is a favourite.
It has a lot of psychedelic rock vibes with the roto-organ as it percolates for the first 3 minutes until the distortion chords explode for the 3 minute outro as Stockdale does a lot of ohhhs and ahhs outlining a haunting vocal melody.
And when you think that’s it, a guitar lead starts that mimics the vocal melody.
A perfect closer.
Check it out.
destroyerofharmony 
This is a lot better than I remember. I listened to them all awhile back to do an album ranking and I found it to be pretty dang good. Not as good as the first mind you. I really like their last album and Stockdale’s solo stuff as well.
Yes I remember your ranking and I’m pretty sure I posted something like “I overdosed on Sundial”. And the closer.
The debut is special. It’s a high standard here in Australia.
Liked that tune Stockdale did with Slash. That debut was good. Need to check this one out.
That Slash track is a great one.
Guitar Hero really gave that debut album a huge push. Not so much for this one. I’m guilty too because I haven’t listened to it yet.
Guitar Hero was massive for artists. Dragonforce went from an niche band to a known band because of it.
For the second album, Stockdale delivered some more mainstream songs but tracks like Sundial and the closer highlight his 70s approach to songwriting
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