Awesome review from Rockportaal

Dutch site RockPortaal have done a great review on our Different album. Words like this make it all worthwhile!

You can find the original here, and a google translation follows. Thank you Hans!

The stayer wins (always) … That is what Peter Cox and Hans in ‘t Zand must have always had in mind. The duo has been involved in the band since the establishment of Chinawhite in 1987. In addition to this beautiful character trait, Chinawhite has at least as many lives as a cat.

It started for the melodic / symphonic metal band in the nineties with the release of a number of cassettes and the mini-album A Dragons Birth in 1997. The first full-length album was released in 2000: Breathe Fire. Then it was nine years quiet, except for a digital compilation album with demos from the period 1990 – 2005. Challenges in 2009 was the next sign of life. But at the moment – with the exception of Cox and in ‘t Zand – everyone thought that the band was defunct, there is suddenly more than thirty years after the foundation and nine years after Challenges in the late spring of 2018 Different.

Fortunately, the ‘test of time’ has not got a grip. Chinawhite still rocks as always. With the familiar symphonic elements through it. Which is not surprising given the musical preference of guitarist and keyboard player Peter Cox. The gentlemen are now tried and tested and know how to produce a fat metal album. Of which deed through the two unadulterated rockers Kiss Of Fire (with a wonderful chorus) and Where I Stand where the album starts. That is partly due to singer Phil Vincent. He has an excellent rock voice, which may require some habituation.

Hello To The World is a quiet composition with beautiful harmonious vocals and a guitar sound that both reminds of the legendary rock band Boston. A sound that you encounter several times on the album. Because of this, I think the album has two faces. Rough, with a legion of overdriven guitar riffs that are sometimes aggressive and then smooth and polished. The varied Different – Eat It Raw shows both faces (hear). One of the positive outliers is Wings Of The Wind. Phil Vincent here shows his best side. Musically it goes down in a variety of straight metal and progressive metal.

Instrumentally Chinawhite also makes good ornamental. As with the pointed and guitar-dominated Or The Same !. But entirely with the closing and with eight minutes longest song Thank You And Goodnight. It is a huge contrast with the previous ten songs. You even wonder if this is the same band. A playful intro on piano (by guest musician Rolf Vossen) is followed by minutes of beautiful melodic guitar playing. Gradually the music becomes more intense due to the use of a second guitar. Then to end in peace and symmetry. I think this is truly a sublime conclusion to a surprising and fresh album.

Different proves that Chinawhite is still alive and kicking. Lovers of melodic and symphonic rock and metal I recommend listening to the album. Perhaps the gentlemen will let us know before 2027 if there is still a new life …