How should I start? Queen is my most special band. There is no way this review not to come out subjective. Studio record without Freddie for the fans is like the Bible without the Creation. Okay, I’ve gone too far. But it is improper move. That is why Brian and Roger added “+ Paul Rodgers” in the name of the band. But the presence of the five letters bears expectations that only the shoulders of the late magician could hold. But despite all, I was anxious to hear the newborns of the tandem May-Taylor. Well, here they are. Let me point from now that I don’t approve Paul’s presence in the band not because of the hidebound opinion that he couldn’t wear Freddie’s shoes (who could!). It is just that his pop pseudo-blues manner of singing was the reason I couldn’t enjoy Free and Bad Company back then. Otherwise he has brilliant voice. And have in mind that he is almost 60. But his monotonous singing in the canons built by him and singers like Eric Clapton, hinders the band to expand its vast talent that marked its style and the world music scene in the last 35 years. In the albums of Queen there always have interweaved florid theatricality, cabaret vaudeville, hard rock, progressive searches, epos, lyricism, pop, disco – a whirlwind of musical nuances, covered by the blazing charisma and inimitable appearing and voice of Freddie Mercury. That is why, besides all its positives “The Cosmos Rock” with its undeviating (even though really nice) hard rock, cannot really grip and impress the listeners, acquainted with the previous records of the remaining active duo of Queen. Yes, there are great songs, “Warboys” is an epic hymn in the spirits of “Hammer To Fall”, “Small” is a wonderful ballad with memorizing chorus and “We Believe” is its lyrical continuation. But to remind of you should you quote yourself (the extract of “We Will Rock You” in the otherwise pleasant “Still Burnin’”)? And who needs in the middle of the nice instrumental passages Paul to add his redneck yeah-ee-yeah ten times in a song? And the opening “Cosmos Rockin`” could easily enter in a Shania Twain CD. But after all, this is a brand new album of 2/4 Queen. And, set aside the name in the title it is a wonderful contemporary record of rock titans, branded the music forever. For dessert “small reprise” takes us with the opening bleeding wounds straight in the heart Red Special, the space spreads us in the so familiar way and everything comes in its place.... And “Cosmos Rocks” is an extremely stupid title.