YtseRob's Reviews
From time to time I've been known to review albums, songs, even books and movies. This is the place where I will put said reviews.
Andres Guazzelli ft. Corvus Stone: Wish You Could Hear
“Wish You Could Hear”, the nearly 12 and half minute epic instrumental piece from Andres Guazzelli is unlike anything my ears have ever had the pleasure of feasting upon. The music is so well written and crafted that it takes multiple listens to even get a real taste of the musical feast before you.
Joined by the boys in Corvus Stone, this track is a majestic rocker that builds upon so many moods and feelings that it’s almost some kind of insane roller coaster ride through a landscape of myriad rock genres. The melding of the hard rock elements with those of the more symphonic sounds is carried out so beautifully and played so well, transitioning seamlessly from one section of this beast to the next. With searing guitar solos, screaming strings, pounding drums, and more organ than you could shake a stick at, “Wish You Could Hear” is a musical odyssey for the ages.
In this day and age, obviously a 12 and half minute progressive rock instrumental is not seeing a lot of time in the mainstream. But with songs like this, who in their right minds needs a mainstream?
Joined by the boys in Corvus Stone, this track is a majestic rocker that builds upon so many moods and feelings that it’s almost some kind of insane roller coaster ride through a landscape of myriad rock genres. The melding of the hard rock elements with those of the more symphonic sounds is carried out so beautifully and played so well, transitioning seamlessly from one section of this beast to the next. With searing guitar solos, screaming strings, pounding drums, and more organ than you could shake a stick at, “Wish You Could Hear” is a musical odyssey for the ages.
In this day and age, obviously a 12 and half minute progressive rock instrumental is not seeing a lot of time in the mainstream. But with songs like this, who in their right minds needs a mainstream?
The Minstrel's Ghost: The Road To Avalon
Anybody that knows me, knows that I am a sucker for a good prog album. I love the stories, the long tracks, the instrumental passages, and everything about a well crafted progressive rock album. So it should come as no surprised that when I heard about this album, my interest was immediately piqued. From the first listen I was very pleasantly surprised, this album has got to be in my top twenty progressive rock albums of all time, and the fact that it is a concept album makes it that much greater in my eyes. This is an album that is very deserving of the word “masterpiece”. Musically, vocally, and lyrically, “The Road To Avalon” is a prog fans dream come true.
The album starts in fine fashion, with a sprawling and beautifully written instrumental intro to the album, throwing out several of the albums music themes within the space of this 7 minute epic kick-off. From the start you can tell that the players on this album are no slouches, and are all amazing at their instruments. Some beautiful guitar parts from the almost unavoidable Colin Tench (not that one would want to avoid his amazing playing), and very cool keyboard bits make this tune one of my favorite album openers ever. Very cool way to being this journey.
“Avalon Part 1” is where the story begins, and is one of the most catchy vocal lines that I have ever heard. The hook is one of those that I guarantee you’re going to get stuck in your head for days. It’s so catchy and Blake Carpenter, the projects mastermind, turns in a very impressive vocal performance. Here we are treated to the main musical theme of the album, a part that turns up several times through the album.
“Merlin” brings that old familiar wizard into the story, with some piano, guitar, and brilliant soundscapes. This song is so beautifully done. Part ballad, part melodic rocker, with a killer guitar solo, “Merlin” is a great breather after the progressive bombastic opening of the disc.
“Lady of the Lake” starts off with a bit of dialogue that helps drive this familiar tale forward. This song is further evidence at how beautiful the music of this band is. With keyboards and a guitar solo leading into the vocal section, and the entire band kicking in with some very melodically pleasing music, and a keyboard solo bit that I just love.
“Excalibur” is up next on this platter of brilliance. The vocals sound perfect wrapped up in the music of this track. Once again the keyboards really shine on this tune, and I love a good keyboard performance. The rest of the band really make this song something special, with an amazing instrumental passage that I would put up next to any other musical passage in the genre.
The first half of the album, dubbed “The Design”, ends with “Avalon Part 2”, a beautiful close to the first half of the story. Musically this song is much like the rest of the album, a sprawling musical journey. Every musician working beautifully with the others, and a return to the vocal hook from “Avalon Part 1”.
The second half of the disc makes up the section called “The Life”, and kicks off with “Camelot”, and we’re welcome to it with a drum solo that will knock your socks off, turned in by Mr. Zoltan Csorsz, of The Flower Kings. He turns in a great performance on the entire album, and it’s cool to hear him take center stage for a minute, before the entire band turn in a blistering performance on this song. The guitar just kills on this tune, and once again Blake gives a beautiful vocal performance. This is a great song, my favorite lyrics on the album, and one of my favorites of the entire genre.
“A Love Betrayed” kicks off with more dialogue to help tell one of the best stories ever written, before moving into a kill guitar solo to open this track. Some atmospheric keyboards help drive this song forward, with some great bass work from Troy James Martin, and another amazingly catchy vocal performance that is sure to get stuck in your head.
“The Son” is without a doubt the biggest rocker on the album. A blistering guitar part, a pounding rhythm section, and some rocking organ, this is a great song. Once again, the vocals work perfectly with this very cool song. Everything about this song really rocks. A great addition and a cool way to mix things up.
The next three songs close this album in amazing fashion, an impressive one-two-three punch here, with “Avalon Part 3” reprising the musical theme of the album, bringing back the very catchy vocal hook from the start of the album once again, even giving way to a very cool keyboard solo. I just love Blake’s work on the vocal section here. Very cool stuff. “Le Morte d’Arthur” is another chance to bring back the theme, but with acoustic guitar and a more laid back approach this time around. Some very beautiful vocals and keyboards from Marco Chiappini, as well as yet another guitar solo dripping with emotion. A very beautiful piece. And finally, we end with the appropriately titled “The End”, an amazing recap of some of the musical themes of the album, with some final vocal bits from Blake. A great way to close out this incredible album, and one that still gives me goosebumps to this day.
A truly amazing album is hard to find these days, as many artists say that the album format is going out of style, but “The Road To Avalon” shows that this so called lost art-form is alive and well in the progressive rock community. This album is an essential in any prog fans collection, and must be heard to be believed.
The album starts in fine fashion, with a sprawling and beautifully written instrumental intro to the album, throwing out several of the albums music themes within the space of this 7 minute epic kick-off. From the start you can tell that the players on this album are no slouches, and are all amazing at their instruments. Some beautiful guitar parts from the almost unavoidable Colin Tench (not that one would want to avoid his amazing playing), and very cool keyboard bits make this tune one of my favorite album openers ever. Very cool way to being this journey.
“Avalon Part 1” is where the story begins, and is one of the most catchy vocal lines that I have ever heard. The hook is one of those that I guarantee you’re going to get stuck in your head for days. It’s so catchy and Blake Carpenter, the projects mastermind, turns in a very impressive vocal performance. Here we are treated to the main musical theme of the album, a part that turns up several times through the album.
“Merlin” brings that old familiar wizard into the story, with some piano, guitar, and brilliant soundscapes. This song is so beautifully done. Part ballad, part melodic rocker, with a killer guitar solo, “Merlin” is a great breather after the progressive bombastic opening of the disc.
“Lady of the Lake” starts off with a bit of dialogue that helps drive this familiar tale forward. This song is further evidence at how beautiful the music of this band is. With keyboards and a guitar solo leading into the vocal section, and the entire band kicking in with some very melodically pleasing music, and a keyboard solo bit that I just love.
“Excalibur” is up next on this platter of brilliance. The vocals sound perfect wrapped up in the music of this track. Once again the keyboards really shine on this tune, and I love a good keyboard performance. The rest of the band really make this song something special, with an amazing instrumental passage that I would put up next to any other musical passage in the genre.
The first half of the album, dubbed “The Design”, ends with “Avalon Part 2”, a beautiful close to the first half of the story. Musically this song is much like the rest of the album, a sprawling musical journey. Every musician working beautifully with the others, and a return to the vocal hook from “Avalon Part 1”.
The second half of the disc makes up the section called “The Life”, and kicks off with “Camelot”, and we’re welcome to it with a drum solo that will knock your socks off, turned in by Mr. Zoltan Csorsz, of The Flower Kings. He turns in a great performance on the entire album, and it’s cool to hear him take center stage for a minute, before the entire band turn in a blistering performance on this song. The guitar just kills on this tune, and once again Blake gives a beautiful vocal performance. This is a great song, my favorite lyrics on the album, and one of my favorites of the entire genre.
“A Love Betrayed” kicks off with more dialogue to help tell one of the best stories ever written, before moving into a kill guitar solo to open this track. Some atmospheric keyboards help drive this song forward, with some great bass work from Troy James Martin, and another amazingly catchy vocal performance that is sure to get stuck in your head.
“The Son” is without a doubt the biggest rocker on the album. A blistering guitar part, a pounding rhythm section, and some rocking organ, this is a great song. Once again, the vocals work perfectly with this very cool song. Everything about this song really rocks. A great addition and a cool way to mix things up.
The next three songs close this album in amazing fashion, an impressive one-two-three punch here, with “Avalon Part 3” reprising the musical theme of the album, bringing back the very catchy vocal hook from the start of the album once again, even giving way to a very cool keyboard solo. I just love Blake’s work on the vocal section here. Very cool stuff. “Le Morte d’Arthur” is another chance to bring back the theme, but with acoustic guitar and a more laid back approach this time around. Some very beautiful vocals and keyboards from Marco Chiappini, as well as yet another guitar solo dripping with emotion. A very beautiful piece. And finally, we end with the appropriately titled “The End”, an amazing recap of some of the musical themes of the album, with some final vocal bits from Blake. A great way to close out this incredible album, and one that still gives me goosebumps to this day.
A truly amazing album is hard to find these days, as many artists say that the album format is going out of style, but “The Road To Avalon” shows that this so called lost art-form is alive and well in the progressive rock community. This album is an essential in any prog fans collection, and must be heard to be believed.
Global Unfied
A good concept album is hard to find. There are a lot of them, but the bulk of them aren’t really talked about as much as they should be. Sure you have the obvious ones (“Dark Side of the Moon”, “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway”, “Operation: Mindcrime), but far too many of the great ones seem to slip through the cracks. The good thing is that more of them are coming out all of the time, and the first album by the band “Global Unified” is a fine example of the concept album.
The story itself is a very cool one. In the future the global government is keeping a very close eye on the citizens of the world as the living conditions of the people get worse all of the time. The government use bird-sized drones, manufactured by dissenters, to police the world. The only hope for humanity rests in the hands of a man who finds an ancient musical device with vibrating wires. It’s an amazing concept, and the music is phenomenal.
This is an album that is hard to classify genre-wise. There are just so many types of music touched on with this disc, that it would be impossible to categorize the disc. The first couple tunes start the disc in very fine fashion, “If I Were A Drone” has a ballsy edge to it, while “When I Was A Young Boy” has more of an alternative kind of sound. “U Won’t Feel A Thing” reminds me a bit of 90’s Rush, but much heavier. Such a killer guitar solo in this song, one of my favorite pieces on the album.
Other highlights on the disc include the somewhat brief, but brilliant breather “Desert Soliloquy”, my personal favorite track “Enemies List”, the crunchy, almost metal, “Globalist Death Camp, the beautiful “In My Sleep” and “Achilles” (with a blistering guitar solo that just screams Lifeson at his best), and the phenomenal instrumental tune “Drones At the Gates of Dawn”.
The press release for the album says the tunes sounds like artists such as Neil Young, David Bowie, Beck, Rush, Dinosaur Jr., Urge Overkill, Duran Duran, and the Police. The amazing thing is that I hear every one of these influences, but so much more. The best part is that there is a sound that is all Global Unified. A very cool mix of these bands, but something so fresh and breathtaking.
This disc is full of melody, crunch, and amazing musicianship. With so many songs to listen to, the album really lends itself to flush out a very cool story, that seems to reveal itself more with each repeated listen.
The story itself is a very cool one. In the future the global government is keeping a very close eye on the citizens of the world as the living conditions of the people get worse all of the time. The government use bird-sized drones, manufactured by dissenters, to police the world. The only hope for humanity rests in the hands of a man who finds an ancient musical device with vibrating wires. It’s an amazing concept, and the music is phenomenal.
This is an album that is hard to classify genre-wise. There are just so many types of music touched on with this disc, that it would be impossible to categorize the disc. The first couple tunes start the disc in very fine fashion, “If I Were A Drone” has a ballsy edge to it, while “When I Was A Young Boy” has more of an alternative kind of sound. “U Won’t Feel A Thing” reminds me a bit of 90’s Rush, but much heavier. Such a killer guitar solo in this song, one of my favorite pieces on the album.
Other highlights on the disc include the somewhat brief, but brilliant breather “Desert Soliloquy”, my personal favorite track “Enemies List”, the crunchy, almost metal, “Globalist Death Camp, the beautiful “In My Sleep” and “Achilles” (with a blistering guitar solo that just screams Lifeson at his best), and the phenomenal instrumental tune “Drones At the Gates of Dawn”.
The press release for the album says the tunes sounds like artists such as Neil Young, David Bowie, Beck, Rush, Dinosaur Jr., Urge Overkill, Duran Duran, and the Police. The amazing thing is that I hear every one of these influences, but so much more. The best part is that there is a sound that is all Global Unified. A very cool mix of these bands, but something so fresh and breathtaking.
This disc is full of melody, crunch, and amazing musicianship. With so many songs to listen to, the album really lends itself to flush out a very cool story, that seems to reveal itself more with each repeated listen.
A*Star
A*Star are one of those bands that you have to hear to believe. They are also one of those bands that it is very hard to categorize. It is impossible to fit them into any one genre. Their music carries a heavy and dark sound that seems to almost flirt with grunge at times, but then they can hit you with quieter, more straight forward rock tunes at a moments notice. With blistering guitar work, and some of the most amazing vocals that these ears have ever heard, A*Star are a band very deserving of national exposure.
Their newest song "Black And Blue" is a hard rock tune that sounds like an eighties tune with much heavier music. Some very killer guitar work throughout, with a very solid rhythm section moving the song forward. The vocals, as with all A*Star songs, compliment the music very nicely. This song is one of my favorite songs of 2013 so far.
"Winter Radio" is another killer tune that starts out with some amazing guitar work before the band kicks in with the vocals. The vocals are more of a spoken poem, with some background harmonizing, a very cool effect. There is some very cool stuff going on in the background of this song, while the guitar just tears it up throughout. "Winter Radio" is the first song I heard from A*Star, and still my 2nd favorite.
"Flashbulb" dials the heavy back a notch, and is a very cool rock tune. The vocals are absolutely stunning on this one, and as always, the guitars are just killer (seems to be a pattern with this band). This song also features my favorite A*Star drum performance.
"Panic Sun Rise" kicks off with some horrifying atmospheric sounds before the band kicks in. This tune is another heavy one, that almost seems a bit grungy to me. The vocals fit into this one almost as if they were an instrument of their own. Another killer song to say the least.
"Drive It Deep" is a very cool tune, a much quieter song, but still somehow rocking out (this is why it is so hard to categorize this band... which I love!), with the rhythm section stepping up their A game. There is a bass line that just grooves... I love it. Also in evidence is a very cool synth part that doesn't overpower the song, but just seems to work so well. There is so much amazing guitar playing on this song, and the vocals are just perfect. Another damn fine song.
"Days Of" is an all out hard rock tune with an amazing tone. The entire band works so great together on this one (not that they don't on all the others, believe me). My favorite part on this one is the phenomenal guitar solo. Reminds me very much of late 90's Lifeson for some reason. Definitely another great track.
I saved my favorite song for last, "Lotus". This song is such a powerhouse, there is so much to love. Heavy, blistering music, powerfully melodic vocals, and a very cool verse section. This is another one of those A*Star songs that make this band so hard to categorize. The way the vocals work with the music on this one, and the driving force of the guitars are further proof that this band deserves some major exposure.
At this point, I don't know that there is a CD available of their work (though they have a 7" single coming out very soon), but I hope there soon will be, as I'm a physical copy collector, and I would LOVE to add the music of these VERY talented musicians to my collection.
pre-order the 7" single of "Black And Blue"
Their newest song "Black And Blue" is a hard rock tune that sounds like an eighties tune with much heavier music. Some very killer guitar work throughout, with a very solid rhythm section moving the song forward. The vocals, as with all A*Star songs, compliment the music very nicely. This song is one of my favorite songs of 2013 so far.
"Winter Radio" is another killer tune that starts out with some amazing guitar work before the band kicks in with the vocals. The vocals are more of a spoken poem, with some background harmonizing, a very cool effect. There is some very cool stuff going on in the background of this song, while the guitar just tears it up throughout. "Winter Radio" is the first song I heard from A*Star, and still my 2nd favorite.
"Flashbulb" dials the heavy back a notch, and is a very cool rock tune. The vocals are absolutely stunning on this one, and as always, the guitars are just killer (seems to be a pattern with this band). This song also features my favorite A*Star drum performance.
"Panic Sun Rise" kicks off with some horrifying atmospheric sounds before the band kicks in. This tune is another heavy one, that almost seems a bit grungy to me. The vocals fit into this one almost as if they were an instrument of their own. Another killer song to say the least.
"Drive It Deep" is a very cool tune, a much quieter song, but still somehow rocking out (this is why it is so hard to categorize this band... which I love!), with the rhythm section stepping up their A game. There is a bass line that just grooves... I love it. Also in evidence is a very cool synth part that doesn't overpower the song, but just seems to work so well. There is so much amazing guitar playing on this song, and the vocals are just perfect. Another damn fine song.
"Days Of" is an all out hard rock tune with an amazing tone. The entire band works so great together on this one (not that they don't on all the others, believe me). My favorite part on this one is the phenomenal guitar solo. Reminds me very much of late 90's Lifeson for some reason. Definitely another great track.
I saved my favorite song for last, "Lotus". This song is such a powerhouse, there is so much to love. Heavy, blistering music, powerfully melodic vocals, and a very cool verse section. This is another one of those A*Star songs that make this band so hard to categorize. The way the vocals work with the music on this one, and the driving force of the guitars are further proof that this band deserves some major exposure.
At this point, I don't know that there is a CD available of their work (though they have a 7" single coming out very soon), but I hope there soon will be, as I'm a physical copy collector, and I would LOVE to add the music of these VERY talented musicians to my collection.
pre-order the 7" single of "Black And Blue"
Phoenix Down: The Cycle of Strife
Progressive Rock is a label that gets thrown around a lot these days, quite often to bands and albums that don’t really deserve the label, “The Cycle of Strife” from Phoenix down is not one of those misused instances. Quite the opposite, “The Cycle of Strife” is the classic example of the label. Pure progressive rock in every sense of the word, from start to finish.
The disc kicks off with the title track, “The Cycle of Strife” an epic sure to make any prog fan stick around for the entire show. The real meat of the disc, this lead cut is a nearly nineteen minute journey of amazing progressive metal. The synth laden intro feeds beautifully into the full band entrance, which is some of the best recorded music that these ears have heard in a very long time. There are many Rush, and Dream Theater influence moments, but with a fresh new take. Like any good prog epic, “The Cycle of Strife” has many hills and valleys that this band expertly break through, keeping the music exciting and demanding the entire duration. With a killer vocal performance to boot, this track has quickly moved up the list of “epics to end all epics”, in my humble opinion.
The remainder of the disc is made up of five shorter, yet no less brilliant tunes. “Nightfall”, a beautifully crafted instrumental piece opens up the second half of the album. With great guitar work, and an amazing bass line that runs throughout, this is an instrumental that holds up great with the rest of the album.
“Truth” has perhaps my favorite vocal performance on the entire album, reminds me of a mix between Rush and Enchant. Some great guitar work on this song as well. Part ballad, part scorcher, this song is a surefire modern day prog classic.
“Client” kicks off with a brief bass note before the whole band strut their stuff. Listening to the performance I have to wonder how these guys aren’t better known in the progressive rock circuits. This is a very cool, nearly six minute, track. Once again, killer vocals and music. Some killer guitar work here, and the rhythm section does a great job of driving this song forward.
“For You”, right off the bat, reminds me of “Signals” era Rush. I love the way the vocals mix with the instrumentation, and the guitar work rivals anything that Lifeson had been doing in the 80’s. And as with every other song on this amazing disc, the vocals are brilliant.
All good things must come to and, but some end better than others. I wouldn't necessarily say that Phoenix Down saved the best for last here, but “This Is Me” is definitely an amazing tune and it closes the album in fine fashion. In fact, I think they picked the perfect song to end this musical journey.
Initially released in 2001, “The Cycle of Strife” has been remastered and is being prepared for an expanded re-release, with a couple bonus discs of demos and cover songs being offered up as a gift to the bands fans. Phoenix Down are currently working on a new disc, which I am very much looking forward to. But with amazing material such as “The Cycle of Strife” to keep our ears busy, I’m sure the wait for the follow up will be very well worth it.
The disc kicks off with the title track, “The Cycle of Strife” an epic sure to make any prog fan stick around for the entire show. The real meat of the disc, this lead cut is a nearly nineteen minute journey of amazing progressive metal. The synth laden intro feeds beautifully into the full band entrance, which is some of the best recorded music that these ears have heard in a very long time. There are many Rush, and Dream Theater influence moments, but with a fresh new take. Like any good prog epic, “The Cycle of Strife” has many hills and valleys that this band expertly break through, keeping the music exciting and demanding the entire duration. With a killer vocal performance to boot, this track has quickly moved up the list of “epics to end all epics”, in my humble opinion.
The remainder of the disc is made up of five shorter, yet no less brilliant tunes. “Nightfall”, a beautifully crafted instrumental piece opens up the second half of the album. With great guitar work, and an amazing bass line that runs throughout, this is an instrumental that holds up great with the rest of the album.
“Truth” has perhaps my favorite vocal performance on the entire album, reminds me of a mix between Rush and Enchant. Some great guitar work on this song as well. Part ballad, part scorcher, this song is a surefire modern day prog classic.
“Client” kicks off with a brief bass note before the whole band strut their stuff. Listening to the performance I have to wonder how these guys aren’t better known in the progressive rock circuits. This is a very cool, nearly six minute, track. Once again, killer vocals and music. Some killer guitar work here, and the rhythm section does a great job of driving this song forward.
“For You”, right off the bat, reminds me of “Signals” era Rush. I love the way the vocals mix with the instrumentation, and the guitar work rivals anything that Lifeson had been doing in the 80’s. And as with every other song on this amazing disc, the vocals are brilliant.
All good things must come to and, but some end better than others. I wouldn't necessarily say that Phoenix Down saved the best for last here, but “This Is Me” is definitely an amazing tune and it closes the album in fine fashion. In fact, I think they picked the perfect song to end this musical journey.
Initially released in 2001, “The Cycle of Strife” has been remastered and is being prepared for an expanded re-release, with a couple bonus discs of demos and cover songs being offered up as a gift to the bands fans. Phoenix Down are currently working on a new disc, which I am very much looking forward to. But with amazing material such as “The Cycle of Strife” to keep our ears busy, I’m sure the wait for the follow up will be very well worth it.