03 A TRILOGY PART 2

Charlie Dominici has struck back with a vengeance in 2007 with the release of O3 A Trilogy - Part 2, his first contribution to a progressive metal album since singing on Dream Theater's debut way back in 1989, (Part 1 of O3 A Trilogy was all acoustic.) And this time, he has is own band. Essentially, the band is 4/5 of the Italian prog metal band Solid Vision, minus the lead singer. The music on Part 2 is what some people say it is: what Dream Theater would sound like if Sir Charles hadn't been voted off the island. Basically, the musicianship is a more refined version of DT's Train of Thought era, with more reliance on atmospheric keyboard passages, and you can actually hear the bass! And of course, the guitar and drums are über-heavy, with the former having more melody while maintaining a heavy crunch, and the latter always showing variety in patterns and rhythms. Plus, this album continues the concept explored in the previous entry of the series: Biological terrorism. But, this time, with an added character.

Now to the songs themselves!

1. The Monster - For a dramatic effect, the opening track is instrumental, beginning with an ambient keyboard section laced with what appears to sound like a lion or tiger (or a liger lol) roaring, before descending into pure prog metal bliss. The musicians have been playing together for a while, you can tell by how cohesively they play together, especially in The Monster. The song ends with a thematic skit which takes place in a crowded police station. IMO, it's kinda humorous with the overpracticed Brooklyn accent.

2. Nowhere to Hide - We are instantly met with crushing guitars and thundering rhythm from the drums and bass. Charlie shows how good of he singer he actually is, and how he was hiding his talent on When Dream and Day Unite when he was trying to sing out of his range. The lower register is his true area, but when he hits higher notes, it sounds surprisingly good.

3. Captured - This song is a bit weaker than the others on this album. It's a slower and softer number, and drags at times.

4. Greed, The Evil Seed - This is one of the best songs on the album. Nice and heavy and twists an turns for 7 minutes. Charlie sounds kinda like a better version of his old self on this song, as he sings kinda higher than on the other songs.

5. School of Pain - This track kinda plays out like an Iron Maiden song, it starts of soft, then staircases up into a realm of heaviness. Everyone is in top form here.

6. The Calling - This song, to be very honest sounds like Dream Theater, I say that's kind of a good thing because Dominici takes those DT ideas and expands upon them more. Every member shines once again here.

7. The Real Life - This song is very quiet and relaxing with just piano and Charlie's vocals. It's also the shortest song on the album.

8. The Cop - After listening to The Real Life and lossening up after the heaviness of the album thus far, BOOM! The Cop kicks you right in the ass with a punishing guitar riff. This is without a doubt the heaviest song on the album.

9. A New Hope - The closing track to O3 A Trilogy - Part 2 is my favorite of the 9 songs found here. It is what the quintessential closing track should sound like: epic, and lingering on your thoughts well after you have listened to it. This song ends with a nice progressive metal coda followed by a very deceptive seeming soundclip.

This album is only 1/3 of a masterpiece, but it's one hell of a third, just let me say! Also, it's one hell of a return to form for Charlie Dominici.

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