DOMINATE

This album comes across very differently in comparison to Underworld and Sanctus Ignis. The Underworld album introduced Adagio fans to an interesting cross between symphonic progressive metal and dark vocals, with occasional growling and screaming. Yet, on Dominate, the vocals have taken on both clean, and growling vocals. It provides a very interesting combination, but it flows very well with the music. The music of course, still falls into the symphonic progressive metal category, and the guitarist continually demonstrates his skill throughout the tracks on this album. A must hear for any fan of progressive metal in the likes of Symphony X.

Still Listining ... I Received it from Japan because I'm a Hudge Fan of Underworld And Sanctus Ignis. Where Are You Stephan ? What I'd Like in the other albums was the quality of the Neo-classical construction of the music ... but this time it sounds more like Symphony X Than Adagio ... This is just a point of view and it is still Adagio, one of the best progressive band in the world ... But for the moment I'm a little bit ... Disapointed (but this just the first time i'm earing the album) So long life Adagio and I Hope my ears will change their vision of this album. (Don't Forget that It's still Adagio so it can't be Bad ! It's Even a Realy Good Album ! But for Adagio... I Want perfection !)

This is a great album. It is different then thier other two albums. I wouldn't say this sounds like Symphony X because they are more progressive then this adagio album. Great Solo's and guitar work. I wish there were more keyboard work esp. the piano work like there was on underworld. I think the growl vocals were overdone on some of the songs. Still this is a great album and a must have for adagio fans.

If I were to rate this album on songs 2-7 it would receive 6 stars, these songs are that great! I love to hear music that captures many different styles. In this case I hear progressive metal, power metal, progressive rock and extreme prog metal. What a great disc (or 3/4 of a disc)! The first time I heard it I thought WOW! Now after the third or fourth listen I am hearing new things like make me like it even more. Unfortunately, and I have no idea why, other than I have heard that the record company MADE them finish this early, it seems that songs #1,8 and 9 are just average songs. Granted #1 (Fire Forever) and #9 (Undying) are good songs they are not the same quality as what I call the "REAL TRACKS" 2-7. Btw #8, the Fame cover tune must be thrown in there just for fun (at least I hope so). Had they been able to add one or two additional tracks of the quality level of the previously mentioned 6 this would have been in contention for album of the year in my opinion. But, given the flaws I can only rate it with 4 stars, 4.5 to be exact.

This was a much anticipated release for me. I truly have enjoyed the previous Adagio releases and the addition of Gus Monsanto to replace David Readman is most note worthy and worth the wait. Super voice Gus! However, I was quite surprised (taken back actually) at the departure from their earlier releases with the introduction of the growling vocals (euphemistically referred to as "cookie monster singing" in my book). I found this release a bit darker (heavier) than previous releases and I would have given it a 4.0 or even higher rating if it wasn't for this distraction. I find it difficult to hear the music over the "noise" of the growling and there is some serious talent hidden behind there! I will still add this release to my internet radio stream with hopes of peronally adjusting to the cookies (this will be a big challenge I'm afraid). They say there is some art if in every form of music -- I just hope I can get past the cookies for now and see it that way. The album still PROX though, it's not just about cookies. progman55 -> www.live365.com/stations/progman55?play

I'm about to review for me the biggest disappointing album for the beginning of 2006, so it is gonna be a bit longer than usual. If I had to review this album after only one listen, I would have given only one star - really felt the inspiration was gone. But listen after listen I changed my mind and eventually found that the songs on this album were pretty good. So what's so different from the last two albums? First, the songs are much shorter, basically meaning there are less symphonic parts and slow/mid paced songs and more heavy/fast paced songs - I just regret the piano work of the last two releases that is almost gone here. Second, there is a new vocalist on this album, Gus Monsanto - but here it is quite a good surprise, his voice in the same power metal style being quite enjoyable. Finally, growled vocals are used on three songs, and that is probably the main problem of this album - the death metal growls simply don't fit the music at all and, when used, are totally unlistenable. The only thing that didn't change on this album is the impressive guitar work of Stephan Forté. So I was about to give four stars for this release when I decided to listen to "Underworld" again for a quick comparison. And of course "Dominate" cannot stand the comparison at all... so I settled for a three star rating instead. And now the detail song by song...

"Dominate" starts like a Cradle Of Filth song with some synth and growling waaaahs. After 40 seconds though, the characteristic guitar play of Stephan Forté kicks in and shows that is it still Adagio after all. Then Gus starts singing with a classical power metal voice backed up with growled vocals (from himself? Stephan?) The melody on this song is very catchy, very enjoyable power metal. No piano, but a few synth here and there. However, the death metal part just after mid song is simply horrible... (8/10)

"Fire Forever" is a pure power metal song. Nothing progressive here, it simply feels like it's Helloween playing not Adagio. Fast paced, guitar oriented metal, probably the weakest song on the album. (7/10)

"Terror Jungle" has a really weird intro with heavy guitar, piano, synth, all blended in a strange fashion. The song then turns into a mid paced metal, very enjoyable guitar driven song again. The voice of Gus Monsanto is awesome on this track. However, like on the first song, the small part with growled vocals after two minutes is horrible and could have easily been avoided. (8/10)

With "Children Of The Dead Lake", the Adagio of the first two releases makes a strong return. The melody is symphonic metal with fast paced guitar, keyboards and piano are pushed in the front, and there is even a piano interlude after three minutes. However, when compared to the songs on "Underworld", it's still a bit lower in quality. (9/10)

"R'Lyeh The Dead"... or how to waste a masterpiece in one lesson. Beautiful intro with piano and synth, followed by one minute of orchestral instrumental before the guitar kicks in. Here the most interesting part are the clean vocals - very high pitched on the verses, very heavy (Dio like) on the choruses. Definitely one of the best songs on the album... but why those stupid growls on the verses? Some whispered/spoken words would have fit better for the first part, and the clean voice alone better for the second part. (9/10)

"The Darkitecht" is undoubtedly the song that sounds the most like classical Adagio. Piano intro, slightly sad melody, flawless vocal performance and guitar work, piano interlude... this song has everything. One of the highlights of this album... (10/10)

"Kissing The Crow" is a beautiful ballad. A frail piano and background synth accompany Gus's emotional voice. Almost cried the first time I listened to it... but unfortunately this song is too short... *much* too short. (10/10)

Finally the album ends with the cover of Irene Cara's pop song "Fame". On an album with only eight songs that lasts just above forty minutes, you would expect a great closing track... at least something better than this stinker. (2/10)

Rating: 79/100 (very good)

This is a brilliant metal album, for progressive metal fans. They play a style of neo-classical metal, with lots of piano parts in it. Imagine Beethoven mixed with heavy metal. They've got a new vocalist who hsa great singing voice - quite rough as opposed to the cheesy vocal of say, Stratovarius - and he's also a death vocalist. I don't mind the death vocals, they make the music a little darker. Luckily theres more singing than death vocals. The music is a little darker for Adagio, and their heaviest so far. The heaviness of the guitars are in a similar vein to Symphony X's "Odyssey" album

After the first album, SANCTUS IGNIS, which was a slightly unfinished attempt at Symphonic Metal mixed with some Hard Rock Influences, and UNDERWORLD, an incredibly gripping album with a sound lacking some finish on especially the guitar sound, french Progressive Symphonic Metal Band Adagio tends to surprise the listener again: After having gone from a Power Metal/ Hard Rock Melange with Symphonic Ingredients to a band much heavier and much more progressive, they now seem to want to move in a more straight metal direction; the growl/scream vocal style introduced on UNDERWORLD is extended in frequency of use, while the neoclassical parts known from that album have, with some exceptions, almost vanished, and are also not as elaborate as known from the predecessor. Also, the songs have become shorter and more "standardized" in terms of songwriting structure. This is mainly what the listener encounters when comparing the DOMINATE album to the superb UNDERWORLD album. To the prog fan, this seems like a disappointment. My humble self was also disappointed, being a big fan of the UNDERWORLD album and the very innovative style of that album. However, DOMINATE did have some moments, so i gave it a few more spins. What i then encountered was an excellent Prog metal album. Even if one was expecting (and maybe hoping for) something else from Stephan Forté & co. , it is indeed a great album, boasting with catchy tunes and riffs as well as "technical parts" to prevent boredom. First off, the new singer, Gus Monsando, replacing PINK CREAM 69 singer David Readman, is an excellent singer, not only more suitable to the Adagio sound on the whole, but especially to the DOMINATE album; his more powerful and aggressive vocal style, slightly sounding like Tim "Ripper" Owens on the album "The Glorious Burden" by ICED EARTH definitely adds better to the whole than Readman's very Hard Rock-ish singing (and performance) ever could have. Then, even if Adagio lost some "prog-ness", they do innovate instead of imitating; the bass line on "terror Jungle", for instance, is excellent and contrasts the guitar part very well. On the whole: Although Adagio can't surpass their masterpiece UNDERWORLD, they rather move into a different direction and show that they're great at doing something else as well. That's for the 4 star rating. I recommend this album to any Adagio fan, and, if he or she dislikes it, to give it a little time. I definitely needed that time, too. But it was worth it. Otherwise, i'd rather recommend this album to a metalhead than a proggie, but i encourage every Prog Metal fan to listen in; this is a high quality release by a high guality band.

The third work of the French metal band progressive in which Mr. Forté is the host of the total composition of the disc, in general a great production that although does not have the impressive symphonic sound of "Underworld" if it tastes aggressive but, the virtuosity this present and the characteristic sound of the band is not lost in the minimum but a little in the advance stagnated, a disc very recommended of one of the original and good bands but of this style.

My second review on this band named Adagio. I find myself not enjoing so much this album in comparation with the great Underworld. Something is not working here, and i don't know what, is it the new voice, is the lack of great ideas of Stéphan Forté / guitars, piano and Kevin Codfert / keyboards, the result is a 3 star album, not bad, but not their best. I think Underworl is the best they ever done. Even if this relese is only a 3 star album, i can recommended, if only for the tracks R'Lyeh The Dead and The Darkitecht the best from here and maybe the most inventive tracks. 3 stars

When I talk about the combination of metal, classical music influences and progressive, I always take in mind Adagio's music. I would say that Stephan Forté and his band were a particular experience for my hearings when I listened the debut album (Sanctus Ignis) by first time a few years ago.

Years later when I thought Adagio's first record had not any competition, suddenly Underworld album came out and I knew that a new masterpiece inside the genre had appeared before my eyes. A world of musical softness, classy melodies, a great balance of technique and mostly, an authentic source of talent gave life to one of the most complete neo classical progressive metal albums (maybe "The Divine Wings of Tragedy" from Symphony X could be compared as an equal).

Nevertheless, after I heard Dominate, doubts and questions surrounded me. Where all magic compositions had gone? What happened with the inspiring music landscapes? Was Adagio going to despair?... and the answer is simple NO, in spite of line-up changes (three original members had left the band, including the charismatic voice of David Readman) they wanted to keep the essence of their music and that?s sure.

Once the band incorporated its new elements they tried to blend some ideas and focused some others. For example, that sensation of orchestration isn't as present as before, also some growls they used on Underworld were repeated with more frequency this time. They conducted the music in a less progressive way and more oriented to a melodic metal sound with a darker touch. Perhaps the only questionable point is the final mix sound (quite inferior quality in comparison to their predecessors, it could be better, specially on drums), however Adagio's original attitude is still there, even sometimes I think on this record more like a transition work but only the time will put this record on indicated place

By: Epsilon.

I am the first one to admit that just the thought of power metal fills me with dread. It is one of my least favorite music styles from this planet & further afield. This album really plays on all the strings I do not like.

Pompeous, over inflated sound is what this album brings my speakers and then my senses. The album is based on verse-choir-verse-solo-choir.... well, you get my drift. The vocals is a mix of growls and normal vocals. The guitar solos is diddely-dey-diggi-lo-diggi-lei which is far too common within the power metal genre. The melodies are pretty simple, although the big sound tries to dress up the songs into something greater than they are. The inclusion on this album of a dreadful version of the title track from the very popular movie & TV series Fame is something I cannot fathom. It devalues this album and the band.

There are some pretty good songs here on this album. But Fame is dreadful and so is a couple of other songs too. There is no great songs on this album at all. The solos is uninspired and only the tangent player and the vocalist escapes from this album with their good reputation intact. This album is best forgotten.

2 stars