When I received Influence’s live album Live Form The Other Side, I wondered why I had never heard of this Dutch band. I mean, releasing a live album usually happens after three or four studio albums. The discography of these metal/rockers however exists of a promo and a debut album only. Live From The Other Side is a more than seventy minutes long independent release. The music is a combination of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest but also has a certain Cult edge. At times the band reminds me a lot of eighties prog band Twelfth Night.

The album features fourteen tracks all of them nicely arranged. The production of the cd is quite amazing. The mix definitely does justice to all different instruments. Influence promote themselves as being a real live band. Live From The Other Side proofs they are right. I wonder what’s next; since Influence is capable of releasing an independent live cd of such high quality, it would be no surprise to me if the next step is a live DVD. You can buy this cd on the bands website: www.influence.nu for only 10 Euro.