OCTANE

This is their second album after the departure of Neal Morse and Nick D´Virgilio does one hell of a great job on vocals. I prefer his voice to Neal Morse because of his sheer range and passionate siging. They are also much tighter as a band on this album.

"A flash before my eyes" is already regarded as a classic Beard song, about ones life flashing before them as they are involved in a car accident. If this doesn´t move you, not much will!

"I wouldn´t let it go" is the only AOR trace I hear on this album, but it fits in so well with the track listing.

"Surfing down the avalanche" is where things really start to rock! Some great vocals from Nick and tight playing from the band.

"She is Everything" contains one of the best guitar solos ever! This is one solo I just wish would go and on. Alan Morse sounds a bit like Gilmour on this solo, brilliant!!

"Climbing up that hill" is about the struggles one encounters in their twenties and thirties. It really has a positive message.

"Letting Go" has some surreal sounding keyboards from Ryo Okumoto, great to listen to on headphones!

"Of the beauty of it all" is one of those songs that just touches your soul. Some people have even said this song brings a tear to their eyes!

"NWC" is a tight instrumental, and when I say tight, I mean Dream Theater tight! These guys can really play!

"There was a time" is a song about looking back on ones life and realizing what you have learned from this experience. Great lyrics!

"The Planets Hum" is another fine example of the song writing skills of this band, it´s rare to find great musicians (no weak link here!) and great songwriters in the same band.

"Watching the tide" is a soft slow song showing that Nick can not only sing the rocking numbers, but can deliver an emotional performance second to none.

"As long as we ride" is a strange song for the ending of this album and to be honest is a bit of a letdown after such strong compositions, so this average sounding basic rocker spoils the ending of this album.

If you like prog with a bit of oomph, this album is for you.