METAMORPHOSIS

Okay, call me a fan boy. This will be my third Magenta review and my third one awarding all five stars. When and if I review Revolutions, I will probably go with four. Magenta is one of those bands that anytime I put any of their proper studio albums on, I am one happy guy. Very few bands hold the sway over me like Rob Reed and company do. And Metamorphosis stands right alongside Seven as a masterpiece in my view. And if Home put you off the band a bit, now is the time to come back into the fold.

People complain about Reed ripping off previous prog bands even though he freely admits his intent. His goal is to come up with new songs in the old school vein; a vein that many of us embrace and surely would enjoy more of if done right. However, he tried to get away from the comparisons this time while still maintaining much of his signature Magenta sound. And I believe he did that. You want progression? You have it here. You want more of a hard edged sound while still maintaining the beauty of the predecessors? Check. You want two gorgeous epics that leave you wanting more? It is on here. And throw in Christina's ratcheting up her vocals to even greater heights than before and you have an essential album.

Don't be put off by the cover; this is not metal, although Reed does incorporate a few guitar passages that push the music into that realm for short bursts. Combine that with a higher percentage of heavier prog than in past albums and you have to hold onto your seat for the relatively short 52 minute ride. The two epics really pack a punch but allow for the occasional breather. These interludes are areas where Reed's ability to craft melodies that few can match are on display. The two shorter songs are also more laid back and provide nice contrast to the heavy epics. Reed also uses strings liberally and to great effect. These really throw into argument as to why Magenta is considered Neo-Prog on PA. The strings lend a strong air of a symphony to the music and buttress the thought that perhaps the band's category should be moved. Chris Fry continues his maturation on lead guitar and has really become one of my underrated favorites playing today. The production is top rate. And I have to add that it should take no less than 4-5 plays before the album will take hold.

The lyrics on the album have been touted as being deep and a bit disturbing but I have as yet to delve deeply into them.

Hey, I'm not fooling myself into thinking I can convert the masses to my way of thinking with this band. They seem to have a love 'em or hate 'em quality about them and the haters just can't seem to come to grips with what Reed is doing. I can live with that, although sometimes it can be a hard pill to swallow when someone has their favorite band dismissed. All I can say is that if you have enjoyed anything form Magenta's back catalogue, this is a no-brainer purchase.