THE ALLEGORY OF LIGHT

Strange, because I originally was ready to delete it from my phone because it looked...old.

Take an old Pontiac GTO today. A 1970's GTO looks old fashioned compared to modern day sleek designs, which is what I perceived by looking at this album cover. I was hoping not to be taken back to the 70's with this album either. However, "MOTH" gave me that kickstart I was hoping for. Although the lyrical talent in the track was lacking, he did not hurt the track at all seeing as there was more time for the instrumental showcase than a cheesy storytelling fantasy tale, which suited me just fine. The guitars and keys were mostly subdued from the intro, but deeper into the track (and earlier in their bluesy segue) the notes just flew by me like, well, a fast moving train. Only downside I have is the stop-start stuttering of the bands movement from the frantic prog rock antics to their slow acoustic chorus. It reminded me of a faulty brake system, something common in GTO's of the day.

"Beggar's Tale" started out like an ambitious prog folk tale and ended as a "someone was playing/singing in the wrong key signature the whole time". "Distant Light" is another instrumental showcase, except the vocals are cometely absent this time. "Zinjanthropus" was the second "epic" in the track and another one I found intriguing. The cultural instruments and influences were very prevalent in the intro, as well as the atonal chord progressions. It also was another track absent of vocals (which suited me fine; debut album or not, the vocals were fairly weak and inexperienced). The transitions in this track are much smoother as well, none of this stop-start crap.

"Industryopolis" reminds me of the King Crimson track of a similar nature on the dreade "Three of a Perfect Pair". The intro is very industrial sounding, but that's where the similarities end. First off, it's actually a good song (heyo). Secondly, it's instrumental; again, which brings up a moot point: why would Syzygy have vocals on the first track when they would be nearly absent from the rest of the album? Perhaps we'll never know, but again, the song structure is very complex like industry with mixed sounds added in that help make it sound very industrial and factory-like.

"Forbidden" is Carl Baldassarre's second chance to make an impression, and it certainly is an improvement over the butchered and chaotic "Beggar's Tale". Both guitars and vocals are in key (for once) and it makes for an entertaining listen. "Light Speed" is just another instrumental showcase, although it harkens back to that frenetic time of the 70's, where cars were fast and so were women (heyo). Like a GTO, it's all about speed here and the change of pace surely spices up the record.

"The Journey of Myradin" is the third epic and final track of this album and once again, it's all about the instrumental fretwork, although there's a dash of Jethro Tull and Dream Theater in the same track (two bands I hopefully will never have to mention on the same sentence again). Once again, it's instrumental. It's another pleasant listen if you love frantic instrumental fretwork and footwork.

I was very surprised at the end result of this product. It's surely not for every prog fan, and the outdated album cover will surely turn people away, but if you're willing to risk it for some instrumental magic, this album will be a purchase you won't regret.

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