MIRROR OF INSANITY

"Mirror Of Insanity" is the debut full-length studio album by Canadian, Quebec based progressive rock act Red Sand. The album was independently released in 2005. Red Sand was formed in 2003 by guitarist Simon Caron after he had previously been active in acts like Fénix and Océan.

Stylistically Red Sand are a Fish-era Marillion Clone if I never heard one (there I said it...), but one of the better ones I´ve encountered. The singer is imitating Fish and it´s kind of awkward at times, when you sound this much like someone else. Other than that he is a skilled singer and the band are well playing too, also imitating the lush but melancholic neo-progressive sound of 80s Marillion. The album features three long epic tracks and a short closing one. The long tracks are very fragmented and seems like they are made up of many shorter songs or parts.

As mentioned the musicians are skilled and as this is neo-progressive rock you notice the keyboard player the most. He has a playing style very similar to Mark Kelly from Marillion even though Stephane Desbiens is more in the forefront than Mark Kelly is on most Marillion material. The guitarist also reminds me of Steve Rothery from Marillion. His bends and generally melodic approach is very much in the same vein. The drums also sounds like Marillion.

The sound quality sounds like it´s made in the 80s. If you like thin 80s progressive rock sound productions this will go down well. Personally I appreciate the sound production on "Mirror Of Insanity", but I don´t normally expect anything made in 2004 to sound like this.

Overall "Mirror of Insanity" is a good quality album, although Red Sand arguably wear their influences a bit too much on their sleeves. This is for the 80s Fish-era Marillion fans, who can live with the clone factor being turned to 11, because they want more Fish-era Marillion, but know they can never have it, and therefore have to search for alternatives...this is actually a worthwhile alternative if you´re one of those fans. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.