THE INCONSOLABLE SECRET

One that disappointed me greatly. I had high hopes that I would love this disk by Glass Hammer but it just doesn't grab me. Certainly the first disk, entitled The Knight, contains some really great moments especially with keyboards but it lacks depth specifically in the vocals and never really deliver an great melody that is memorable. I reminds my of trying to take Keith Emerson and sticking him in Genesis. I don't really understand the concept the are trying to put forth but this kind of Tolkien fantasy is not well formed. After nearly 30 minutes of this for no particular reason in The Knight of the North we move into some kind of Gentle Giant counterpoint thing. Stick some vocal effects on a very average voice doesn't add much. Then we move into some kind of Tarkus movement into a 4 minute Grand Finale.

Disk Two, entitled the Lady, starts off with the best song on the CD Long and Long ago. Decent song with a decent vocal line and good musical harmony as well. Unfortunate we move into another song called the Morning She Woke and to tell the truth I don't remember much about it except that it seemed like it was 15 minutes long when it was just a hair over 5. I think that the word for this CD is tedious. It just gets tyring so quickly. The rest of the CD with the exception of Walking toward Doom and Mog Ruth are equally unmemorable. S

There is some definite musicianship and composition here but it isn't put together in a good package. I won't give up on this band (see my review of Live at Nearfest) but this one is not for me. 2 Stars