Artist: TALISMAN
Album: "CATS & DOGS (CD)"

Year: 2003
Media type: CD

Acknowledged as somewhat of a Scandinavian supergroup, TALISMAN has issued some albums of startling quality, but has suffered from a fraught history. Both bassist Marcel Jacob and American vocalist JEFF SCOTT SOTO are former associates of YNGWIE MALMSTEEN. Jacob has also previously been a member of POWER, worked with ex-EUROPE guitarist JOHN NORUM and performed sessions for THE JOHANSSON BROTHERS, BILLIONAIRES BOYS CLUB, EYES and ex-CANDLEMASS vocalist Thomas Vikstrom. Soto, generally considered to be among the World's busiest Rock vocalists, disperses his considerable vocal talent over numerous band projects, including PANTHER, KUNI, TAKARA, EYES, his own solo material, under pseudonyms fronting both SKRAPP METTLE and KRYST THE CONQUEROR as well as work with AXEL RUDI PELL.

TALISMAN started life as a studio project assembled by Jacob. Early unreleased recordings of high charged Melodic Rock boasted such high ranking Swedish vocalists as Goran Edman, of YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and MADISON repute, Thomas Vikstrom from CANDLEMASS and Chris Lancelot of GRACE.

The first, self titled studio album, issued on the Airplay label in February 1990, was recorded primarily as a duo of Jacob and Soto and benefited from the inclusion of guitarists Christopher Stahl of POWER and Mats Lindfors from GRAND SLAM. Additional musicians included GLORY keyboard player Mats Olausson and 220 VOLT drummer Peter Hermansson. Although initially financed by Elektra Records the album surfaced through Airplay Records.

At this point TALISMAN, as a live unit, consisted of Jacob, SIAGON KICK guitarist Jason Bieler and former YALE BATE and TOTEM drummer / vocalist Jakob Samuelson (a.k.a. Jake Samuel). Thomas Vikstrom supplied keyboards. Upon completion of the first tour Samuel opted to join GRAND SLAM, an act assembled by EASY ACTION's Zinny Zan and ELECTRIC BOYS' Martin Thomander.

During 1992 ex-BAM BAM BOYS frontman Matti Alfonzetti repatriated himself to Sweden following the break up of British act JAGGED EDGE and joined TALISMAN. A further new member was found in ex-ONE CENT and TAURUS guitarist Fredrik 'Kulle' Еkesson. This line-up demoed but Alfonzetti was to depart to form SKINTRADE. The album of that year, July's 'Genesis', saw Japanese editions on the Pony Canyon label adding a bonus track with a cover version of BAD COMPANY's 'Run With The Pack'. A brief replacement saw the re-recruitment of Samuel prior to his departure once more to join TOTEM and then rejoin TALISMAN once more for a final stint as part of the 1993 touring line-up. Samuel finally quit for good, joining JETLAG (later setting up JEKYLL & HYDE) and ex-TREAT man Jamie Borger taking over on drums.

A live album saw the band gaining much ground and also saw the band issue an extremely scarce single under an assumed name of GENARO. Sung in Spanish, 'Todo Y Todo' saw only 300 pressings.

Akesson quit after the 'Life' album to form EYEBALL with ex-EUROPE bassist John Leven, ex-IT'S ALIVE drummer Rickard Evensand and former TREAT and SWEDISH EROTICA vocalist Mats Leven. This outfit eventually adopted the title of SOUTHPAW for an eponymous 1998 album.

TALISMAN pulled in erstwhile BEAU NASTY guitarist Brian Young. Soto and Jacob teamed up at the end of 1995 to record an album under the band name of HUMAN CLAY album. The record found YNGWIE MALMSTEEN guesting on one track. Soto also cut a solo album 'Love Parade' and was found earning considerable sums as part of the Las Vegas 70's retro Disco band BOOGIE NIGHTS!.

Back with the name TALISMAN, Borger came back on drums alongside Scott Soto and GREAT KING RAT and JEKYLL & HYDE guitarist Pontus Norgren contributed. The album included an adventurous range of covers including PRINCE's 'Darling Nikki', QUEEN's 'Let Me Entertain You' and even MADONNA's 'Frozen'. However, by late 1998 PONTUS NORGREN had reformed GREAT KING RAT. Confusingly, Norgren issued a solo album the same year entitled 'Damage Done', actually the band name of an earlier project. To further confound fans TALISMAN were back in 2001 although under a completely new guise of HUMANIMAL. The band comprised of the familiar faces of Soto, Jacob, Norgren and drummer Tomas Broman, a veteran of GREAT KING RAT, ELECTRIC BOYS and AMAZE ME.

The TALISMAN name was resurrected in mid 2002, the band comprising Jeff Scott Soto, bassist Marcel Jacob and drummer Jamie Borger being joined by a returning guitarist Frederik Еkesson supplanting Pontus Norgren, signing a deal with the Italian Frontiers label.

Promoting the 'Cats And Dogs' album a summer 2003 European tour, which included a headlining slot at UK 'The Gods 2003' festival, saw the addition of second guitarist Howie Simon, a veteran of TAMPLIN, to the ranks. To coincide with these dates the entire TALISMAN back catalogue, complete with a swathe of bonus tracks, was remastered for a re-release campaign.

As 2004 drew in it would be revealed that Soto was to front up a brand new Californian 'supergroup' comprising the JOURNEY duo of guitarist NEAL SCHON and drummer Deen Castronovo along with the THIN LIZZY, TED NUGENT and WHITESNAKE credited bassist Marco Mendoza. In May this union took on the band title of SOUL SIRKUS. Meantime, Marcel Jacob featured on new recordings for ex-CANDLEMASS singer Thomas Vikstrom and guitarist TOMMY DENANDER's act SPEEDY GONZALES. Later that same year both Jacob and Borger would involve themselves with LAST AUTUMN'S DREAM, featuring on the 'II' album.

Early 2005 found Fredrik Еkesson joining the touring line-up TIAMAT, replacing regular guitarist Thomas Petersson who had been detained by "parental duties". TALISMAN launched a DVD package that year billed 'World's Best Kept Secret', this set comprising two complete shows from the 'Cats And Dog' tour filmed at the Club Mondo Stockholm and 'Sweden Rock' festival, archive live footage dating back to the 1993 Japanese tour, backstage footage and all of the band's promotional videos to date. A double audio album, 'Five Men Live', was issued to coincide.

In September of 2005 ex-TALISMAN guitarist Fredrik Еkesson enrolled himself into the ranks of ARCH ENEMY. Marcel Jacob, announcing plans for a further TALISMAN album, maintained his work by contributing on album sessions for LOCOMOTIVE BREATH, Tommy Denander's SPEEDY GONZALES and LAST AUTUMN'S DREAM.

It would be revealed that TALISMAN was engaged in recording a new album at Ulf Wahlberg's XTC studios in Stockholm. These sessions would see JEFF SCOTT SOTO and Marcel Jacob joined once again by Fredrik Еkesson and Jamie Borger.

Norgren, Samuel and Alfonzetti achieved national acclaim in in February 2006 when it was revealed they were members of spoof Rock band THE POODLES. The band won one of the four qualifying rounds in Sweden's competition to find an entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest with their '80s styled track 'Night Of Passion'. THE POODLES in fact comprised a cast of seasoned veterans also involving bassist Pontus Egberg of LION'S SHARE repute and drummer Christian Lundqvist.

Soto stepped up into the big league during mid 2006 as he assumed lead singer duties for JOURNEY on July 7th in Bristow, Virginia, replacing Steve Augeri who was forced to bow out due to a "Chronic throat infection".

TRACKLIST:

1. Skin On Skin
2. Outta My Way
3. In Make Believe
4. Love Will Come Again
5. Break It Down
6. Friend 2 Strangers
7. Sorry
8. Trapped
9. M.O.M.
10. Wherever, Whenever
11. Lost In The Wasteland
12. Hell In Paradise

LINE-UP:

Jeff Scott Soto (vocals)
Fredrik Еkesson (guitar)
Marcel Jacob (bass)
Jamie Borger (drums)

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