ARSIS

It's a pity that this excellent album has not been reviewed yet by anyone. I am totally surprised with this fact as I have been for such a long time not paying particular attention to this great prog band from Mexico where at its initial years I collected all of their albums and only lately I realized that I do not follow this band until this album even though I have their previous albums before this from my colleague prog head. In fact I only knew from him that some tracks featired here in Arsis album are basically taken from previous album (?). Well, I don't know. Just give a chance to write my view of this album the way it is.

First off, the opening epic La Iliada (30:13) opens beautifully with a piano work under its first movement that sets a wonderful tone for the whole album : a) Atrida Agamenon - 4.29. In fact through this piece the band tries to bring back my memory of opening track of Angels and Demons album with a wonderful instrumental of Initiation. Of course the composition is different but the nuance of the piece is quite similar only that under this part it's a piece of the whole epic. The guitar solo by Claudio Cordero is really stunning and he plays as wonderful as previous guitar player Francisco Hernandez Reyes - or probably better in a way that Claudio is much rocking. I don't feel any sense of change to the next movement b) Helena en la Muralla - 2.25 as they have crafted the transition piece beautifully - I only realize there is a tremendous change on the next third movement c) Diomedes el Tidida - 3.08 which s still another excellent instrumental using flute as one of the melody altogether with guitar and piano / keyboard. I can sense the bass playing is also really good throughout the song. There is an element of classical music right here at third moment but the band play it in relatively fast tempo and it's really an excellent piece!'

The fourth movement d) Andromaca - 6.42 sounds differently even though still using flute as its melody maker but now the guitar plays critical role in providing fills and improvisation, combined wonderfully by keyboard work of Alfonso Vidales, who is I think is the chief composer of this Cast music. The guitar solo by Claudio is really rocking and stunning. He plays his guitar on his own style not representing any legendary players like Hackett or Howe. It's really nice. The fifth movement e) Batalla Interrumpida - 5.10 is naturally much classical in nature. It opens wonderfully with a flute work in classical music style. But then the music moves really fast and rocking with electric guitar takes the lead for the song. Wow! What is interesting is the keyboard augmentation after the guitar solo sometime at minute 1:25 of the piece. It's really wonderful and in some way it reminds me to Rick Wakeman. This is then repeated again at the other segments. It's totally cool! The music turns rocking and wonderful starting at minute 3:35. Oh my God ... It's really nice! You should not miss this piece! And the peak is the insertion of classical ensemble at minute 4:30 until it ends and continues to the next piece ...

...yeah ... the sixth piece is f) Embajada a Aquiles - 3.03 with still maintaining the classical nuances through flute work but then piano solo takes the lead followed with guitar work in rhythm section mode instead of solo. The musical break using piano is really nice. And the peak of the epic is the last piece g) En Donde Estabas?... - 5.16 which starts in an ambient mode with great combination of guitar and piano. What a cook opening! What follows is a simple guitar solo that represents like a melody maker even though not that long as it is continued with piano work and flute. Well overall epic of 3o minutes duration is really excellent and I enjoy from the beginning to end with all wonderful segments throughout the epic. Vocal line only happens on the next track 2. The Old Travel Book (9:10) with another excellent musical composition that accompanies the vocal. The flute still play as background music during the vocal session and then the guitar provides its short solo. You can sense the bass guitar playing is nice. The composition at this track is not that complex and it is performed in relatively slow tempo, and a bit of boring as it's too long with minimum change of style.

Next epic is not as long as the first: El Puente (18:32) with first movement a) El Puente - 6.22 starts with a vocal line accompanied by piano and bass guitar. It continues with nice keyboard work augmented with flute. The ending part of this first movement is really great and it's rocking combining keyboard, drums and stunning guitar solo. It flows nicely with great piano work that opens the next movement b) Luz Al Final Del Túnel - 4.02 followed excellently with flutework. What becomes my favorite is the third movement c) Valle de Los Sueños - 8.08 that concludes the album wonderfully. It starts with a string section using violin followed with female vocal, brings the music in crescendo with tight basslines. Violin provides nice fills and augmentation throughout the song. The guitar solo that starts entering the scene at minute 2:27 goes on and off until it takes the lead in its fullest potential with stunning solo and rocking nuances. I do enjoy the whole piece of this third movement but the climax is really at the last two minutes where guitar really take its full lead until the end. What a great closure!

Overall, this is truly a progrock album that anyone should not miss at all. All tracks are excellent and the composition is top notch! It's a four-star plus rating. The sonic quality of the record is not excellent - and it's typical of any Cast albums. But ...the composition is great! Keep on proggin' ...!!!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

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