MIRROR OF INSANITY

Instrumentally this band sounds a lot like Fish-era MARILLION. There are a lot of melancholic sections that are contrasted with the uptempo and uplifting passages.

"Blame" is melancholic to begin with gentle guitar and keys as reserved vocals come in.The sound becomes much fuller 3 minutes in but it's brief as we get a lot of atmosphere to follow. It's not until before 5 minutes that the song kicks in sounding a lot like MARILLION. Some nice Rothery-like guitar after 7 minutes. We get a dark section a minute later before the song ends in an uplifting manner with soaring guitar. "Children Memory" opens with fragile vocals and gentle guitar before the song steps up a notch 1 1/2 minutes in. I really like the guitar 2 1/2 and 4 minutes in. More uplifting guitar after 9 minutes.

"Mirror Of Insanity" opens rather solemnly as a sadness can be felt in the music and lyrics. It changes to a brighter mood after 3 minutes becoming more uptempo and catchy. A calm 5 1/2 minutes in as synths and drums lead us out of that climate. Mellotron sweeps through 8 1/2 minutes in with piano arriving a minute later. The guitar soars 11 minutes in. "Cradle" is a short song with acoustic guitar, fragile vocals and mellotron. Electric guitar 2 minutes in plays tastefully.

3.5 stars. Debated about 4 stars but honestly couldn't do it because I just didn't like it that much. I really like the brighter, uptempo passages that remind me of MARILLION though.