VANISHING POINT

A fast paced album from start to finish. It lasts a good distance, running in at 64minutes.

Very strong drumming, guitars and vocals dominate this album. The orchestration interplays are also very good. The result is that I can't help but to make a comparison to the heavier side of Dream Theater; which can't a bad thing!!

All the tracks are classic power progressive metal with only the exception of; "Handful of Hope" which drifts nicely to a more mellow affair, and the finale track entitled "April" which closes the album with a reflective acoustic theme.

Without having heard the previous albums at the time of writing I would say that this is a band with intensity and skill. Time to review and research their back catalogue . A solid 3+ stars for Vanishing Point.

Australian band VANISHING POINT started out towards the end of the 1990's, and in an 10 year long initial phase of activity released four albums and then more or less vanished following the release of the last of these albums in 2007. Come 2014 and they return with the CD "Distant Is the Sun", released through German label AFM Records.

The most striking aspect of this album isn't the chosen style of the band. The material contains enough twists and turns in structure, arrangements, pace and intensity to merit a description as a progressive metal band, and there are occasions where you can hear the affection the band has for good, old power metal too, and the liberal use of orchestration arrangements will make this a band with a strong appeal amongst a symphonic metal oriented crowd as well. But the stylistic diversity, even if ever so subtle at times, isn't the most important aspect of this album. In the like it or loathe it section this is one of those productions that revolves around intensity most of all.

The initial observation I get after listening to this production a few times, the last run through with full attention, is that I have a headache. Not because the music is lacking in quality or features any horrible details on any level. On the contrary, this is a very well made album on all levels, planned in details and executed to perfection is my impression. But it's also a rather intense affair throughout, an unrelenting attack that is hard to take in one sitting.

Dramatic orchestration details combined with staccato or chugging guitar riffs and rhythms of an equally dramatic nature goes hand in hand with loud, majestic guitar and keyboard arrangements, and whenever the keyboards or orchestration are toned down or when a more delicate piano motif are added to the proceedings instead, the guitars are given a loud and dominant role in the proceedings. Whether the songs are slow, midtempo or uptempo everything is intense and loud, with a dramatic flair, a loud mix or both of these combined. On the intensity scale this is a production that top range, and while we do get some sparse arrangements here and there with more of an atmospheric and careful nature they generally serve as instigators for the following intense attack. An intensity emphasized by the melodic, controlled yet also powerful lead vocals.

A couple of exceptions aside the songs are all striking, compelling and well made, and as I experience them relying fairly substantially on the high intensity to maintain tension and interest. Which is a make or break aspect of this production I guess, you really have to enjoy the in your face aspect of this album to be able to enjoy it, and if you crave details of a more careful, sophisticated nature this probably isn't an album that will intrigue you all that much.

So if you enjoy a band with a foot or so inside the progressive metal realm, liberally flavoring their compositions with aspects of power metal and symphonic metal, then Vanishing Point's most recent production "Distant Is the Sun" may well be an album that merits a check, and then first and foremost if you enjoy music of this kind that is fairly dramatic, loud and intense throughout.

This is the second album from the Australian progressive metal band, but the first since they signed to Limb Music and consequently the first to be easily available in Europe. Having already kicked up a storm with a dynamic performance at Wacken, the German press in particular have been eagerly awaiting this album, and it is easy to see why.

This six-piece just oozes confidence, and puts hard rock melodies and styles against more progressive and melodic ideas that crafts a sound that will be enjoyed by anyone who thinks that Stratovarius are the high point of this genre. They are not afraid to bring in ideas just for a few bars to make a difference to a song, yet never moving away from their hard rock roots.

Vanishing Point certainly sound more European than any other Aussie outfit I have heard, and are in a class far removed from Skyhooks or Rose Tattoo. Superb

Originally appeared in Feedback #61, Feb 01

All I can say about this album, The Fourth Season, is 'Wow!' The first time I listened to it, I was speeding down a highway, and let me tell you, what perfect music for such an event. I see the music on this album as an accompaniment to action scenes in an epic movie or video game. But of course, this music surely can stand on its own, as well as every member of this band.

Vanishing Point, a progressive metal band hailing from Australia, has been making music together for over a decade. And with their fourth album release, it is quite apparent. Polyrhythmic beats and lots of double bass from the drummer, driving bass, great guitar riffs, great guitar solos, melodic keyboard passages, and a vocalist who isn't afraid to put himself out there, this album provides the entire package of what progressive metal is.

The production of this album is superb. Everything is mixed well, and the listener can hear all parts, especially the vocals. Speaking of the vocals, his voice is very melodic and the background vocals are written and executed very well. Instrumentally, this band plays together very well, and all members can easily stand on their own as great musicians. Their music is intelligently written. The forms of their songs make sense, and their melodies are well written. The only gripe I have is that I can predict their harmonic progression and feel where the music is going before it gets there.

Hopefully this album will give the band more attention as progressive metal artists. This could be the breakthrough they need.

Vanishing Point forth album since now named The forth season from 2007. Hmm, kinda let down from previous two albums, I don't know what happend here but the compositions are like the same with each other, no diversity in their prog metal with power metal leanings. The good ideas lacks here, less intristing and captivating, usual album, even in their catalogue no to mention in prog metal scene. From here I can extract only 3-4 pieces as more choesive and enjoyble than on Tangled in dream (their best so far, to me at least).Embodiment,Behind The Open Door and the last track A Day Of Difference are the best, the rest are ok but nothing special to my ears. So finaly a good album overall but nothing outstanding here, 3 stars nothing more.

Tangled in Dream is the second release from the Australian progressive metal band Vanishing Point. Vanishing Point are a band that I discovered as a result of Prog Archives and because the streaming tracks fit within my tastes I purchased both Tangled in Dream and Embrace the Silence at the same time. Vanishing Point play traditional progressive metal following in the footsteps of Dream Theater. As previously mentioned in another review, they specialize in catchy tunes and melodic vocals and are most comparable to bands such as Poverty's No Crime, Vanden Plas, and Sieges Even. The highlight songs for me are the songs Never Walk Away, the balladic Dancing With The Devil, and Father (7 Years). Also nice, is the hidden track, which is a cover of the Pink Floyd song On the Turning Away. All and all this album is an enjoyable listen with nothing that I find objectionable. The vocals are kept clean and melodic which I like coming from a metal band and I much prefer over the death growls or ear piercing screaming that you get from some bands. The CD also includes an 8 minute video clip titled Tangled In Europe which features video and photographic coverage of the band while in Europe featuring the track Never Walk Away.

Overall, I think that this is a good album that would fit nicely in any progressive metal fan's collection, but it isn't an essential addition. Therefore, I give this release 3 stars on my interpretation of the ProgArchives rating scale.

Third album of this australian band named Vanishing Point and my second review on their music so far. After i descoverd two years ago this band mainly because of thier second release Tangled in dream from 2000 i considered to have more of their albums, so i bought this one Embrace the silence and the last one The forth season from 2007. I enjoy very much Vanishing Point music, they sound so metal but in the same time so melodic. If you except someting a la Dream Theter, well is not, and i'm glad that exists bands that doesn't copy or are influenced by this kind of music. The band plays a melodic prog metal but without to many noodleings, like other bands from prog metal. The musicians are top notch, great voice from Silvio Massaro. All in all a great album, very impressed by this band, the best peaces are opening track Hollow, If only i, Embraced , the rest are also very enjoyble. 4 stars fot Embrace the silence, after a gap of 5 years of personal and contractual problems this album kick ass from the begging to the end.

A very entertaining if somewhat formulaic album.

Australia's VANISHING POINT play traditional by-the-book progressive metal. Longer-than-average songs, virtuosic performances, lush keyboards and pianos (even though there's no mention of any keyboardist in the booklet, not even as a guest musician), good vocal harmonies and some interesting bass lines.

But, at the same time, the band plays by the rules but never dares to break them or go too far with them. Their songs are longer than the usual metal track but never reach the 6 minute mark. Their solos are good but never dazzle the listener, neither are they really that extended. Keyboards are mostly used for background purposes. The vocal melodies are catchy but never adventurous, and the harmonies are very simple, even if they tend to sound attractive.

The main influences I can detect in this band's sound are DREAM THEATER (though not as evident as in other groups), SYMPHONY X, EVERGREY, POVERTY'S NO CRIME, and power-metal outfits like DRAGONFORCE or classics like IRON MAIDEN. VANISHING POINT, though, actually manages to have a sound of their own, even if kind of formulaic. The band has, in a way, dissected the sound of all of those influences, stripped them of much of their flashiness and pomp, and come up with a collection of songs that achieve a basic goal: entertain the listener. What this music fails to do is to captivate one's attention as there's really not much to read between the lines but what's evident and presented to us. In that matter, the closest reference for their sound would be late-EVERGREY, a band also notorious for playing the safest brand of progressive-metal (especially in their still-excellent "The Inner Circle" and their atrocious "Monday Morning Apocalypse").

And to EVERGREY we return when we want to describe the vocals of VANISHING POINT. Massaro sounds like a mix of that band's Englund with Russell Allen and, at times, a little bit of PAIN OF SALVATION's Daniel Gildenlow. Massaro's voice is fine and is pleasing, though never amazes. The same can be said of the rest of the band. The drums are played with precision but there's barely a moment when we can say we heard the musician do something really unique. The guitars are fast and the solos are very melodic, yet short and safe. The bass never tries anything out of the ordinary. Finally, the keyboards, which add atmosphere and drama to the music, aren't even acknowledged in the booklet. If one only reads it, it would seem this band doesn't include pianos or keys. But it only takes 2 seconds into the album to notice their existence (the entire opening riff of the disc is supported by keyboards(?!).

The songs are written in pretty standard verse-chorus-verse structures. The choruses are quite catchy and melodic, at times epic and heroic, and are usually the best parts of each one of the tracks. The chorus for the first song, Embodiment, is a clear example of EVERGREY's and Englund's influence on this band, at least on this record.

To sum it up, "The Fourth Season" is a good but not great album. Progressive but not much, powerful but not much, it's saved by the good hooks of its songs which create a very enjoyable experience. I think 3 stars will do just fine.

Breaking the silence (after 5 years)

After a gap of some 5 years, Australian Prog metal band Vanishing Point returned in 2005 with "Embrace the silence". The long gap was down to a number of problems, including contractual issues and ill health.

The best way to describe the music here is generic as Vanishing Point absorb a diverse range of influences from across the metal spectrum. Dream Theater, Iron Maiden, Dragonforce and Uriah Heep are just some of the bands who came to mind while listening to this album. "Live to live" for example is carried along on waves of big sounding keyboards, with soaring guitars and multi-part harmonies. The persistent beat helps to bring out the enthusiasm of the band.

At a shade under 7 minutes, "Embraced" is one of the album's highlights. The introductory guitar is softer and more melodic, leading to a mid-paced power-ballad style song. The purists among us will protest that it is not exactly prog, and they will have a point in terms of the album as a whole, but this is a mighty song by any standards. The intro to the following "Season of Sundays" is equally striking being reminiscent of Uriah Heep's "Midnight". By the time we reach "Reason", the band are in danger of sounding like Kiss, such is the instant appeal of the pop like vocal passages.

I cannot help but feel that from a prog perspective, some of the tracks could have been developed further. "Once a believer" for example, the longest track on the album at exactly 7 minutes, has an excellent arrangement. The song weaves its way through some fine passages, but had they been developed just a bit more this could have been a real classic.

There is a heavy reliance throughout the album on strong hooks for the chorus sections, which the band deliver in anthemic fashion, much like bands such as Rhapsody. This makes the songs instantly memorable for those who enjoy them, and thus gives the album early appeal. Whether it stands up to repeated listening over a long period though, is less certain.

The tracks all fit within the 5-7 minute range, but since there are no less than 13 in total, the CD is pretty much as full as it can possibly be. This can be a double edged sword in terms of retaining the listener's attention, but overall the band pull it off well.

In all, an album to please those who like the lighter side of prog metal. There are enough melodic hooks and power chords here to satisfy the most demanding melodic rocker. Whether there is enough substance to please those who demand a heavy dose of prog in their metal is doubtful, but this remains a highly enjoyable album.

An australian prog metal band who leans towards the US prog/power mwtal scene.When hearing the whole album the first band that comes in mind are QUEENSRYCHE for sure and their lyrical style of prog.Other influences that are obvious are LETHAL and FATES WARNING.Good guitar riffing,expressive but not outstanding vocals and dark atmospheres are the highlights of the album.Fine prog metal effort...