THE ETERNAL QUEST

The Eternal Quest album by obscure metal act Mystic Force features music that falls partly in progressive metal category not abandoning the US power metal fundament. The sound of the band is somewhere between early Savatage and early Fates Warning. Rather heavy, yet frequently melodic. Howe some parts of several songs have tangible trash edge which reminds of Watchtower (don't be afraid - no superagressive freaking-out riffing, however just listen to Structure Of Uncertainties!). The overall mood of songs seems to be gloomy, morose, desperate, at times energetic and even mysterious. Although the song structures are not overtly complex, they don't follow blindly the standard riff-verse-chorus-solo formula. And what is really good ? you can really find catchy and haunting riffs, melodies and choruses here and there. No comments about mediocre sound production that spoils the impression a bit.

Concerning the musicians, the drummer surely deserves a serious praise. He makes it just like Mark Zonder (my private drum hero)!!! Chris Lembach's drumming is apparently influenced by the ultimate drum-genius of Fates Warning. Being very versatile, quite diverse and inventive it utterly helps to create and maintain not only the groove and punch, but also the melody and atmosphere. Guitarist Rich Davis is extremely technical - what about some sweep picking? He composes rather heavy and memorable riffs, but for some reasons fails to deliver stunning (in the sense of melody and emotions) solos. Bass parts by Keith Menser are really ok. So his occasional keys inclusions are. Vocals are so-called "quasi-operatic" and really similar to early Ray Alder with a touch of Midnight as well. But regardless the vocal range and beautiful singing Bobby Hicks lacks his own vocal identity, image, you can say. Not that he copies the styles of renowned singers like Tate, Alder or Oliva, but his personal timbre don't stuck in memory like the voices of aforementioned vocalists do.

Moving to songs, I can highlight: Shipwrecked With The Wicked (my fave one), Answers Of The Mystery, Vicious Obsessions, Reach For Tomorrow (the most light song on the record filled with atmosphere of hope which builds images of enchanted elven forest in my imagination), Eternal Quest and, perhaps, Dimensions. The tracks like Structure of Uncertainties, Eternal Quest and Premonitions will probably draw attention of advocates of prog complexity.

In the end we have a rather good progressive record of medium to superior musical quality with slight diversity in style, which however lacks own identity a little bit and suffers from mediocre production. It would a pleasant listen for admirers of old-school 80s prog-heavy metal.