RHETORIC

The extended tour for the promotion of ''Field of vision'' was followed by the departure of Mick Stovold, who was replaced by the experienced Mike Varty, who had spent time with Shadowland.In 1999 Credo started the workings around a second album, which were constantly interrupted by health issues and bad luck among the band members.When things started to roll again Martin Meads found himself behind the drum kit and the band was signed by F2 Music.The result of the positive facts was the release of ''Rhetoric'' in 2005.

The flat, uninspired and fairly accesible sound of Credo's debut was a thing of the past.''Rhetoric'' sounds very simlar to the darkest side of MARILLION, especially from the ''Fugazi'' sessions, and the short, unimaginative rockers of the debut have been replaced by long, deep and bombastic arrangements with strong nods to 80's British Prog, maybe a bit like ARENA, if you also add some slight FLOYD-ian and CAMEL-esque touches.While the music has not actually something trully new to offer, the grandiose parts, the excellent vocals of Mark Colton and the powerful passages are something the listener will be unable to overcome.''Rhetoric'' is based on the best Neo Prog tradition, featuring lots of soaring synthesizers, passionate lyrical adventures, punchy bass and drum lines and well-worked guitar on rhythms and solos.Varty is also responsible for one of the better productions you will find in a Neo Prog album.Smooth, contemporary symphonic orientations and more laid-back waves of atmospheric music are present as well in an album that keeps overall a great balance.Maybe the biggest advantage of new Credo was their ability to finally create deep, extremely dramatic and highly emotional parts through their music, both from a lyrical and an instrumental point of view.

''Rhetoric'' could have stood next to the best Neo Prog releases of the 00's, if somekind of originality was added in the album.Even this way the sensitive, atmospheric and well-crafted arrangements of the band along with the mass of bombastic textures offer a really great listening, if you are into groups like MARILLION, PENDRAGON, ARENA or PALLAS.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.