SHADOW GALLERY

The debut by this band wasn't my personal first acquaintance with their music. Actually that was their third, Tyranny. And I think that is a good starting point because if this debut would have been my first it just might be that I wouldn't have gone further in their discography. This one is in my possession for about a decade now and if I have to be honest, it's not one I play very much. I'm playing it just now for the review to see where it all ends up and for the individual songs too of course because to be honest I don't know them all very well, I can just remember that the whole thing isn't too impressive.

First song (Dance of fools) doesn't really give one the idea we're dealing with a progressive metalband really. It's very soft rock what I'm hearing here (2,75*). Next track Darktown is a bit heavier but still not one that makes your boxes explode. One of the most significant features of Shadow Gallery has always been to me the vocal harmonies, the thing that makes them very recognizable. This second song is a lot better than the opening but not really excellent yet (3,5*). Third in line is Mystified a somewhat slower ballad like track sounding very nice but not mindblowing (3,25*). 4th track Questions at Hand is a lot faster and for the first time I'm hearing something that is like real (prog) metal and it's also pretty good compositionwise (3,5*). The final hour is the shortest track of the album and it starts ballad like to end up as a more than average track (3,25*) with some fast instrumental playing of both keys and guitar. Next is Say Goodbye to the Morning, another one with good vocals and fast instrumental playing (3,25*) . Last is The Queen of the city of Ice which is the most often played by me. The epical length always intrigued me but for a song of this length it has always been a slight disappointment for me. I always thought when playing it: when does it really begin when does the mindblowing instrumental passage come up ? But it never does on this one. The apotheosis just isn't anywhere to be found. In the end the song ends as it started, relatively quiet without great swings in mood or temperament. Not bad at all as a composition but far from excellent also (3,25*).

Mathematically it's exactly 3,25* and that is more or less what it always has been in my mind, so 3. A fair album but compared to their successors a minor one. Recommended for the real fans.