SOLA SCRIPTURA

Only once in a while a masterpiece as big as "?" can be brought to daylight, and Neal Morse is the one does is more often than many others. But it seems that even in his case it takes more than two years. He's new album is really, really good, but there's no way it could be compared to it's great short-named precursor. Sola Scriptura first strikes us with it's dark and somewhat scary cover, but once You give the CD a spin you'll be sure there was nothing to be afraid of. Actually overall nature is as soft and kind as it was in "?" (as for ProgRock of course). Main themes are nice, they appear in right proportions so that they don't get bored, yet they lack this kind of power of expression found on "?". To make long story short: it is a great peace of music but it lacks those special moments when You subconsciously take a deeper breath when certain parts of plot end in a magnificent finale. Instead one will find all kind of broad, unconventional solo passages, often supported by chorus, nice melodies, even moments of contemplation perhaps as there is also a multitude of subtle parts. Since it's very good release, consistent and enjoyable four stars fits it perfectly.