FLOW

After the great release of In Your Multitude, there were high expectations regarding the next disk from Conception. They released Flow, somewhat a departure from the things they had done before. Khan's vocals being even better, his English more pronounced and listenable. Still, if you listen to this album, more space-rock orientated than it's predesessors, you can almost hear them break up. Incorporating different non-guitar- orientated themes, this is an album still worthwile listening to but don't be suprised if it dissapoints.

Damn! this is a real good job. but something don´t make me think that FLOW is the greatest album of Conception. Roy Khan is one of the best vocals around the world, without a doubt(i think he made a better job in Conception than Kamelot). The songs are very interesting, with a great job in guitars and a correct job in the other instruments. Would it be the same is the best song in the album, and is a real good end to the record. But is something rare: the songs are very similar between each one. In some passages, the album become something bored, because structures are very similar. Summarazing, a good album, but something left to become a great record. After all, cheers to Conception.

The last album of Conception (to the date) is a good mix of rock, metal & innovation from one of most authentic bands from the last years in the progressive music scene. This album has a unique style, with a lot of creativity and sophistication during all record. In my opinion all songs are well done and the guitar work developed on this album (by Tore Otsby "maestro", he's one of my favourite guitarists) is wonderful. Others high points during this album are Roy Khan's voice which is sublime with that characteristic and so special touch.

This work was a vey good page in the progressive metal history from 90's. Conception always were a step forward from others prog-metal bands and this album show it us.

By: Epsilon

I bought this album about a decade ago thanks to a review in Aardschok, a dutch metal magazine. If I remember well this was album of the month at the time so I thought: that can't be bad ! After listening a couple of times I can't say it was disappointing. It's an album full of melodic compact metal songs, not particularly loud but still metal. Vocalist is Khan who joined Kamelot later on as most metal fans will know. As with Kamelot he was also with Conception an important part of the sound of the band. Another striking thing of this album is the overall performance where the songs are concerned. 10 very good songs, you can't ask for anything more. Are they all in the same style ? No, because Hold on f.i. is a splendid ballad and also in the other songs there is enough variation to remain interested all through the album. The only thing that's missing is an epic, some longer song with great instrumental passages. That would make it more of a progressive album by the way because this is almost plain metal.

But like I said, good enough for I think a lot of metal fans to buy it. 4 stars (3.75).

"Flow" is the 4th full-length studio album by Norwegian power/progressive metal act Conception. The album was released through Noise Records in April 1997. It´s the successor to "In Your Multitude" from 1995. Like the case was on the predecessor, "Flow" features session musician Trond Nagell-dahl on keyboards. "Flow" would be the last release in Conception´s original run as they disbanded in 1998. Some members went on to form Ark, while lead vocalist Roy Khan joined Kamelot.

"Flow" is a slightly less progressive and more simple release than the direct predecessors, but the songwriting is still decent and at times of a good quality. Conception are a well playing band and lead vocalist Roy Khan is a high class singer with a strong voice and a commanding delivery. Stylistically the music is somewhat reminiscent of the late 90s/early 00s Queensrÿche releases (you know...the albums that people never talk about when discussing the otherwise brillant band). It´s mid-tempo polished heavy/power metal featuring relatively simple and rather dull riffs and rhythms, and only occasionally memorable vocal parts. It´s not bad quality music, but it´s something that´s almost worse...it´s music which leaves me indifferent.

"Flow" features a well sounding although maybe a bit too sterile and clean production job. Everything sounds professional, polished, and clear, but a little more grit and heaviness to the production, could maybe have provided some of the unremarkable compositions with a push in the right direction. That wasn´t to be though, and "Flow" therefore ends up a pretty unremarkable release in the discography of Conception. Still a 3 star (60%) rating isn´t all wrong, there are after all a lot of quality elements featured on the album.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

If there's a band with the ability to capture the essence of many influences such as; progressive rock, heavy metal and even, flamenco music among others and to give a rich, amusing and authentic sound as final result, that band would have to be Conception. However, on this time they chose to work with more artificial elements and in that way they were changing the common acoustic and autochthonous musical resources from past albums.

Certainly, all that combination filled to the band from musical arguments in each record, and now they were able to elaborate a prodigious sound and very progressive "in the literal sense of the word". Fortunately, Conception has never been the kind of act that tries to prove their ability through the exaggerated virtuosity and they have always known to add the specific element on the right moment, and all of this is demonstrated once again on Flow.

Musically, Flow is homogeneous on its sound and sometimes when I listen the record I have the sensation to be hearing something new, like if the record had been on sale today (keeping in mind that it was recorded eleven years ago). 11 tracks (one more thanks to Japanese version, hehehe!), where you will find mid tempos, a power ballad and at the end, songs more oriented to the Conception's classic style.

For finishing there are two things; one, If you like the band and their style, just get it, and two, for the old stuff fans of the band, perhaps this is not going to be the best effort. Personally I like to hear a real progression on the sound of any prog band, maybe for that reason I have enjoyed a lot this one.

By: Epsilon.

So...Here we have an album that is totally different from the band's others...

The keys are highly presented, the guitars are less metallic and the hole album's atmosphere is similar to the PINK FLOYD sound especially for the guitars. The best label, in my opinion, for this album would be: A more metallic Division Bell that has much to do with some Queensryche sound, too.

Nevertheless, the band keeps its unique character with Khan's voice being so mature and melodic. Ostby's guitars are genius with a totally different tone, never heard before. The hole band manages to present another piece of his work that, maybe, is not a masterpiece but it's worthy listening and consists an excellent addition to ANY prog listener or musician...

4 stars really....

The closing of a chapter for CONCEPTION ,the end of an era,the final representation!Well,this fourth album FLOW was one of the most delightful and pleasant prove that intelligent music can permanently change itself , without any will to step again on solid ground!Why/Because the precedent CONCEPTION album IN YOUR MULTITUDE was touching perfection and was one of the most amazing inspired mixture of power metal and some fresh progressive elements to bring in the end a very,very good album!With this new album TORE OSTBY,the leader and fantastic guitar player of the Norvegians,choosed at the time to move a little more comercial ,without any idea of launching weaker standards to the excellent quality of the music!Being a very solid line -up crew,the guys in CONCEPTION,in 1997 choosed to put in evidence,in my humble opinion,the brilliant voice of KHAN,the charismatic and marvelous vocalist of the band!He seemed at the time to be more in his element with a more melodic and comercial approach and the songs in FLOW were the perfect oportunity for him to mark seriously this album with his heavenly voice!Unfortunatelly after this album he choosed to join KAMELOT ,a very talented Amarican band where he is offering even today his loyal services! Just hear the sublime ballad HOLD ON ,and we'll realise at what level of amazing vocal technique this guy can sing!The album has a very modern touch including modern keyboard parts and some even more modern drum tempos!Unfortunatelly,CONCEPTION fans were not prepared for this change of musical direction,they were waiting for a second IN YOUR MULTITUDE and they were dissapointed because this album was a100 % different to the previous album!Some very challenging new ideas and the comercial direction -everything was too surprising for the numerous fans of the Norvegian combo!And,it seemed that this was too much for TORE which decided to push even further his componistic ambitions and to form ARK 1 year later and ,the rest is history!4 top class albums is their legacy in music,but what class for each album-each album is different,proving that album after album they were more and more mature and ambitious! 4,5 STARS for a very modern album and marvelous vocal lines especially!

Conception introduced some new aspects such as more mechanical rhythms, lots of synths and a slightly industrial feel and vocals. While they managed to do so with grace, it's an album that doesn't measure up to the preceding ones.

The album starts ok with a couple of nice tunes such as Gethsemane, Angel and Reach Out. The sound is more polished, taking away some of the edge from this band. A Virtual Lovestory and Tell Me When I'm Gone grow old pretty quickly. There's even some alternative rock influence on Flow, which start almost like the Cure's Inbetween Days.

Halfway in, the album sinks in under its lack of ideas and daring. Cry and Hold On are ballads loaded with cliché sentimentalism. The two closing tracks Cardinal Sin and Would it Be the Same are also too tame and too derivative of Black Sabbath's period with Toni Martin (especially Cross Purposes). Conception never matches the power of Sabbath to make these songs really work.

With a limited number of decent tunes that work for an occasional listen, the album hardly registers above average. It might still be enjoyable for fans of the band but to anyone else I can only recommend to hunt after the debut album.