ROOM V

I purchased this album just around the time it started to receive highly positive reviews and no one seemed to question Shadow Gallery's authority. Personally I definitely consider myself a fan of Progressive Metal but this never stopped me from being cautious of U.S. bands since they tend to go a bit overboard into the Power Metal territory. Although there are bands, like Queensrÿche and Symphony X, that manage to fuse their Power Metal tendencies with high quality material Progressive moments others completely miss the mark for me. Having just been burnt from listening to the highly acclaimed band called Kamelot I approached Room V with caution.

It's questionable whether my skeptical approach had any significant effect at first since I really liked the first part of the album. It might not have featured that many Progressive Metal moments but Mike Baker definitely convinced me with his clear and passionate vocal delivery. The music might have had a bit to much drama in it but now I'm just getting picky. Unfortunately once the instrumental tracks started pilling up one after the other, starting with Birth Of A Daughter, I began loosing the original opinion of the music. Most of the so-called Progressive instrumental moments featured on Room V are in fact pure Power Metal material and, with an exception of Seven Years, instead of showing how good the band were it actually gave me a glimpse of their flaws.

While it might be considered debatable if Room V is just another Dream Theater-inspired offspring of the excellent Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From A Memory it's clear that Shadow Gallery aren't as versatile as their colleagues in the Progressive Metal genre. Still there are definite glimpses of potential showing though thanks to the excellent vocal sections and melodic delivery that, if evolved, might actually give other concept albums a run for their money. As it stands today this album is just a good, but non-essential release.

**** star songs: Manhunt (2:09) Comfort Me (6:51) The Andromeda Strain (6:46) Vow (8:27) Lamentia (1:04) Seven Years (3:37) Dark (1:03) Torn (8:23) Encrypted (8:01) Rain (8:59)

*** star songs: Birth Of A Daughter (2:40) Death Of A Mother (2:15) The Archer Of Ben Salem (7:28) Room V (7:44)