ACT I: THE LAKE SOUTH, THE RIVER NORTH

I happened to browse through the best albums of 2007 and happened to notice how Fear of A Blank Planet was pushed out #1 place and replaced by Act II of TDH. Seeing how much hype Porcupine Tree's latest album was getting I was really surprised to see it beaten out of first by a band I have never heard of. So after a brief bio check on the band I decided to go ahead and purchase both available albums.

Battesimo Del Fuoco was a very beautiful vocal piece which really put me in the right mood, especially listening to it over and over again whenever I get the chance. This just under two song is probably one of the best capella pieces I have ever heard from any proggresive album. The Lake South brings the instruments into play by giving us an erie carnival-esqe soundscape which seamlessly brings us into the beginning of the actual meat of the album. It's a little difficult putting my finger on the City of Evil seeing how it jumps around a lot from the loud, in your face sections to the second half being a little slower with the vocal harmonizing being as wonderful it is. Then lastly coming back to the first portion of the song to where the 4th track begins. The Inquiry of Ms. Terri is a lot slower now where the chorus is just as good as the one found in City of Evil. 1878 starts off very soft for the first half and brings in sort of a much jazzier edge around the second half. Considering how the song started I wasn't sure if adding an organ would really do much for the song, but I was wrong. The Pimp and the Priest seems to bring us back to the carnival sound. I have caught some earlier themes being repeated in this track. The next track, entitled His Hands Matched His Tongue, is basically the apex of the album. The back up singers do a wonderul job adding to the atmosphere of the track here. The final track The River North leads us with hope for the future with a piano melody accompanied by a cello, I believe.

Overall, I find this album one of those essential listens since, in my opinion, they have a lot of qualities that makes them sound just like any other mainstream band, sort of like Panic At the Disco, but adds a lot of progression to the mix. Highly Recommended.