Truth

Truth is a melodic hard rock record assembling supple bass, sharp guitar and expressive vocals. Released in 1998 after a three-year silence, it's the first Talisman album with Pontus Norgren (later HammerFall) on guitar. Songs written in Los Angeles were recorded in a small studio and Soto's home studio, and finished with the help of John Ellis in Boston. The songs move naturally between passages that spring like funk and passages that push through with force. For all the playing ability, at the center are singable melody and groove. It opens with Queen's “Let Me Entertain You,” and boldly places Prince's “Darling Nikki” and Madonna's “Frozen” — the Madonna cover reportedly became popular in German clubs. Originals like “In the End” and “Heaven's Got Another Hero” are consistently strong, and it never slackens through to the closing “Madison.” No touring was done for this album either, but it led to their Sweden Rock Festival appearance. A record for savoring Talisman's urbane, hot rock sensibility.