THE LITTLE BOY'S HEAVY MENTAL SHADOW OPERA ABOUT THE INHABITANTS OF HIS DIARY

I cant understand why this fantastic album has such little popularity. It is, in every sense of the word, a masterpiece. Andy Kuntz really proves himself here. I like Vanden Plas, but i've found theres always something lacking with them - emotion. I feel that decent music must have emotion, must have feel, must have soul. Abydos has all of those and more.

You can tell that Kuntz has worked in musical theater from the word go. Its all very melodic, parts of it are catchy (not cheesy), and there are some musical type chorus'. Having said that, its not all happy, ear-freindly musical stuff. Theres a healthy dose of prog and prog metal there aswell. A Boy Named Fly could not be anything else than a prog masterpiece. Theres also a feel-good, groovy number (Radio Earth) which is pure class.

The orchestration in this album deserves special mention aswell. Its masterful. Just listen, for example, to the rumbling menace of the track Abydos and tell me that the orchestration isnt superb.

Kuntz can write a ballad as good as enyone else, proved aptly on the track Far Away From Heaven, which is of course...great.

As one reviewer mentioned earlier, purists will pick at this album and tell us it is cliched and un-origional. I would say back that while there are some "been done before" ideas, if they are done with pure class and elegance, how can there be a fault? I mean, the heavy riff in God's Driftwood, has been done countless times - but ive never heard it done to such skill, woven beautifully into the song (which is probably the most prog-meatal song on the album).

Every song is a winner. While You Broke the Sun, Far Away From Heaven and Radio Earth will jump out at you immediately, the others may take time to grow. Theres a prog-metal trio in the middle "Coppermoon, Hyperion Sunset and God's Driftwood" which will all probably take time to grow on you. The same goes for Abydos and Wildflowersky. A Boy Named Fly however, will probably get you right away - with its epic chorus, heavy riff and a wonderful "Far Away From Heaven reprise" on acoustic in the middle.

Lastly, I must mention Kuntz' vocals. His range is superb. His vocals are clean and unique, powerful and emotionally driven.

Abydos. A masterpiece.