THE ODYSSEY

During most of the tracks, it is true to say that the metal environment is prominent. Don't try to find any prog flavour during ''Inferno'': it would be a waste of time. This being said, while Russel Allen stops shouting and considers that signing might also be an option, things are improving.

Still, these metal lines, or riffs, or guitar extravaganza at your own best choice: they are just too much. I already mentioned why I am reviewing their discography and so far I haven' t encountered the real kick with any of their albums. But I am not of deep fan of the genre, that's true.

As I have already mentioned in other reviews of the band, the quality of the musicians is absolutely not the problem. It is more the style of music they play. While attending one of their concert, they only mentioned ''we were going to get a great heavy-metal evening''. Of prog, there were no question about. The same feeling prevails while you listen to this album (and to some other ones from the band as well).

To summarize, I would just copy/paste the introduction of MikeEnRegalia review: ''This is a really excellent metal album''. I would add: nothing less, nothing more.

The seven tracks featured on this release before the epic, are just plain heavy metal tracks with little inspiration (being ''Inferno'', ''Wicked'' or ''Accolade''). Same sort of mood and no variety in the song writing. Average music IMHHO.

The construction of ''Awakenings'' is slightly better and it is by far my favourite song from this offering. It offers some fine metal music combined with some rock ballad mood in the vein of the great ''Kansas''. It was about time, since it is the last but one song from this album.

The epic and title track holds some fine moments, but you have to overcome the poor intro which sounds as a Cecil B. DeMille soundtrack. Fortunately, the song favourably evolves into some sort of crafted and intelligent metal piece of music. Technically impeccable, this long track (over twenty four minutes) holds the necessary performance to keep the listener interested but these orchestrations are really too much to my ears. At the end of the day, there is not that much to retain about this long track.

This album is not bad but I can't really go over three stars when the rating time is due. Metal music for sure. Prog is just next door. And it is not the bonus ''Masquerade'' and the classical intro that should changed your mind. At least, it is how I feel.