BETWEEN TWO STEPS

This EP was released some time before the Hyperdrive album, maybe a way to introduce the new band members (guitarist Mark Bogert and bassist Peter Vink, a veteran of the dutch rock scene since the 60´s), and their new sound, to the fans. It has only five tracks, and two a re-recordings: Forever Now (from `The Sun Also Rises' ) and Dreamweaver (from `Under A New Sign'). Of the new stuff two are radio edits for future tracks from Hyperdrive: Bubble and the ballad This Day. The short instrumental Xerenity rounds up the material.

The re-recordings are ok, they don´t differ too much from their original versions, except for the slightly louder guitar and bass parts. This and Bubble hint the new direction towards a more hard rock sound, but not much. This Day could be in any of their earlier stuff, so I guess if I had listened to Between Two Steps before Hyperdrive I would have no clue that they would change their original symphonic neo prog sound that much. Even the only new track that did not made to the next CD, Xerenity, is quite the same style as before. A pity that it is so short (barely over the two minute mark).

Rather than a taster for their new sound, Between Two Steps is more like a sad goodbye to their golden years.

Rating: 2,5 stars.