Let me start by just saying that this is the BEST release of 2007! If you are in to Prog Metal and want to enjoy a fascinating concept don't go any further! AP just broke the curse of super bands ( I trully hate this title) with mediocre records. They trully delivered a masterpiece!
The musicians of this album don't need any references, we allready read a lot about this release. It needed only a couple of spins to grow in me - it just stuck on the cd player! The music is mostly melodic without being cheesy with hard parts scattered beautiful. The whole result flows easily from ballads to chaotic prog solos. All the main influences of Wehrkamp's music are here (Prog metal, AOR, symphonic) with all the high standards of Shadow Gallery's music. DC Cooper's voice is just outstanding and especially in last song, one can say that is trully breathtaking. Rhythm section needs no introduction and Barabas and D'Virgilio gave an extraordinaire playing. Every song has its own meaning and scope and in the long tracks the music really is from another planet. Prog at its best moments.
Actually I waited almost a year to write a review of this album, simply because I didn't have the lyrics (for the known reasons). So when I finally got the chance to read the lyrics and story, everything fitted perfectly. This is not just a concept, it doesn't pretends to be a rock opera, it is a musical novel. JD Crawford gave the story and lyrics. When you finish this album you have all the feelings of reading and completing a mindblowing book. The story is quite heavy and emotional and I couldn't escape of the feelings included. Well, this is a great advantage of this record.
I don't have anything more to say...5 stars are not enough
(progarchives / Sophocles)
Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Room 316 (1:33)
2. Friends Forever (2:56)
3. Coming of Age (4:58)
4. Incident at Haldemans Lake (11:43)
a) Blades of Denial
b) Nex Per Res
c) Breath of Life
5. Reflections Part I (3:21)
6. I Promise You (2:57)
7. Consummation Opus (4:24)
8. Truth and Tragedy (2:57)
9. Shattered Dreams (13:29)
10. Viper (5:36)
11. Betrayed by Love (7:16)
12. Turning Point (4:48)
13. Revelation (13:06)
Total Time 76:24
Line-up / Musicians
- DC Cooper / vocals
- Gary Wehrkamp / guitar, keyboards
- Nick D'Virgillio / drums
- Kurt Barabas / bass
Guest Musicians
- Chris Alla,Joe Stone / guitar
- Jim Roberti / acoustic guitar
- Shawn Gordon / keyboards
- Trishla O'Keefe,Michael Sadler,Rick Fisher / background vocals
