THE POWER AND THE GLORY

The Power and the Glory is Gentle Giant´s sixth album. Gentle Giant is known for their brilliant musicianship and their mixing of many different genres like classical chamber music, jazz, Medieval music, Avant garde and hard rock. They have on their previous five albums succeeded very much with this concept and I think their first 5 albums are essential listening.

The music on The Power and the Glory is similar to the last album In a Glass House but generally a bit simpler. There are plenty of complex playing on The Power and the Glory though which is examplified by songs like Proclamation, So Sincere and Cogs in Cogs, but there are more almost normal pop songs on The Power and the Glory than on previous albums. All songs on The Power and the Glory are very good and most are excellent even though I find Playing the Game a bit too long and repetitive.

The musicianship is as always outstanding. Note the crazy vocal harmonies in Proclamation.

The production might be the best so far in Gentle Giant´s discography ( the first six albums)

The Power and the Glory is a wonderful album even though I don´t feel it is essential. I would purchase other Gentle Giant albums before this one if I was a new fan. The Power and the Glory deserves 4 stars for being an excellent album though. I was getting used to giving Gentle Giant five star ratings so I must say that I´m a bit disappointed that I don´t feel this is a masterpiece but you can´t win every time can you ?