THE CROSS & THE CRUCIBLE

This album is the follow-up to the Beat the Drum. It's a concept album about the conflict between science and religion through the ages, with science represented by The Crucible and religion by The Cross. This is superbly well realised in the title track. A tremendous epic complete with grandiose keyboards, pounding bass lines and insightful lyrics. For the Greater Glory is another epic with superb lyrics (however a big negative with this song is the vocals are too buried in the mix - you can't actually hear what Reed is singing). Thankfully they are printed in the booklet. During the middle of the song the music suddenly erupts as they go "over the top" during the World War 1 section, truly inspired.

The other tracks offer up variations on the epic theme. However therein lies the problem, most of the tracks have that same bombastic epic feel to them. There are only two ballads and although they are very well done, there isn't enough of a balance. It is not to say that these other tracks are poor, just there should have been more variety in the style.

A point to note is that the material comes off a lot better in The Blinding Darkness DVD. Including a superb version of For the Greater Glory.