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When I volunteered for this album I expected an Italian power metal band with some progressive influences. Their earlier albums sound more like an old Queensryche/Stratovarius mix. I knew that the band had become more progressive, but that it would be such a big change? The metal parts made room for progressive rock. The sound of this record is rather frugal and can be compared a little bit with Fates Warning's 'Inside Out' album. Actually the atmosphere on the entire album can be compared with Fates Warning. The vocals of Vittorio Ballerio sound rather emotional and he gives the songs the right color. With his fragile voice he puts melancholy in the songs. I realize he is not the best vocalist around, but he just fits perfectly to the music. Most of the tracks have a rather slow/mid- tempo, but when they fasten up, I start to enjoy them the most. The faster part in "Islands of Madness" is a good example of that. In my opinion the album has a little bit too much softer songs and passages in it. That makes it difficult to listen to it from start to finish, but this is definitely an album that will grow and grow listen after listen. The song that surprised me the most was "Chiaroscuro", a track without a lot of difficult prog elements, it's just a simple instrumental average rock track. The track after that has some Spanish sounding influences and Vittorio finishes it of with his typical voice. For me it wasn't an easy album to review, at first I didn't know what to think of it. After the first spin I was rather negative, but after a few more spins it grew and became a better record. I still don't find this a top progressive album because there are too few metallic parts in it for me, but I am certain that a lot will worship it. I advice you to listen to this CD, it could be your album of the year. | ||||||||||||||||||
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