FANTASMAGORIA

I suppose that, Samuel Arkan, Virus IV's guitar player, as almost all the co-creators that moving at the same prog metal parallel universes, must have so much stuff to express, so they are making one after another projects to drain their inspiration. So Samuel, stepping himself too over Arjen Lucassen's Ayreon idea, inspired by big musical productions, he gathered a summary of already certified musicians ( in spite of they aren't so well known outside of progressive metal style) and a few excellent vocalists and, after he corraled them in Hansen Studios, they all together worked upon his new "Fantasmagoria" album, a long- termed, 14 tracked concept set. In comparison with "Obsessions" debut, new stuff is a evolutionary step in every side you hear it, with multifarious compositions, excellent production and emotionally intensed. Having available high vocal personalities such as Tom S. Englund (Evergrey) (that he's contributing on 5 album's tracks) and Ida Haukland (Triosphere) (she actually shines on the self titled song), Arkan is developing intellectual, progressive metal, worth to be ambitious about the status is hoping to get.

You could take as disadvantage the number of the songs, refering on the total quality of the album, but this possibility just don't happens here. Songs aren't tiring, for instead they are well watched to their last details, with high leveled and mostly fresh ideas, creating a huge number of emotions.

I have to confess that, even after multiple listenings, I am not assimilated completely to the new stuff, but I separated many beautiful moments even from the first time of audition. By piano made intro "File 4180-2" and the following "The Arch" (truly, the building riff is a manic one), 'till "The Unreal" epilogue, I lived basically very good guitar sounds, heavy on their majority, building a compact wall upon to, Julien Spreutels (Ethernity) virtuoso keyboards, sonically imprinting concept's atmospheres while the Leo Margarit's (Pain Of Salvation) obviously progressive metal's drumming style, is almost undescribable of words. "Forgotten Symphony" and "The Inheritance", are two more tremendous songs but I hardly can find any of them inferior.

Of course, a big slice of this performance belongs to "Fantasmagoria"'s special guests. Henning Basse (ex-Metallium), Simone Mularoni (DGM) and Tezzi Persson (Between The Silence) on vocals, on drums is Leo I mentioned before, master Mike LePond (Symphony X) on bass "paints on canvas" as he has used us all these years and Matt Marinelli (Borealis) is good enough on sharing guitar parts with the central mind, Samuel.

"Fantasmagoria" is a complete release, surely worth to buy it by everyone who sets himself friendly to atmospheric, pomp metal. Has individual personality, songs are flowing as morning, alleviative pissing, doesn't tires you and fairly is a valued suggestion to the present of music industry. A forward step for this multi-talented musician called Samuel Arkan and the staring artist parade he invited for help. Ayreon and Avantasia can be sure that their offspring is as decent as they could expect.

Very good, highly recommended.