SONGS FROM THE LIAR'S LAIR

This Finnish four piece band was founded in the early Nineties, in 1992 Ageness released their debut CD Showing Paces, followed by Rituals in 1995 and Imageness in 1998. Then it became very silent until 2009 when Ageness released their fourth album entitled Songs From The Liar's Liar. The band featured three original members: Tommy Eriksson (vocals, keyboards and guitars), Kari Saaristo (drums and percussion) and Jari Ukkonen (bass guitar), along Speedy Saarinen (guitars and vocals) and guest musicians Matti Kervinen (from other Finnish bands Kataya and the interesting Pax Romana) on keyboards and backing vocals and Jukka Kulju on the distinctive Hammond organ (in the track Liar's Liar).

To me this strong fifth album sounds as a kind of 'Art-rock-opera' with a lot of variety, good musical ideas, an excellent rhythm-section, lots of harder-edged guitar work, wonderful keyboard play (including an important role for the Mighty Tron) and, last but not least, inspired vocals with a slightly theatrical undertone at some moments. The climates range from mellow with twanging guitar, warm vocals and tender piano or a sound collage to a tight up-tempo rhythm with fiery guitar and propulsive drums or bombastic with emotional vocals and lush keyboards.

My highlight is the long final composition Liar's Liar: it starts dreamy with beautiful piano and vocals, followed by a compelling atmosphere and then, there is a few minutes silence minutes, concluded with a splendid final section featuring a heavy and bombastic climate with intense Mellotron violins, biting guitar, thunderous drums and powerful vocals, very exciting!

This final Ageness album is their best effort and interesting for fans of symphonic rock, neo-prog and Seventies Art- rock (elements of Bowie and Queen).

My rating: 3,5 star.

Share this AGENESS review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to TenYearsAfter
• Report this review (#1952821)
• Buy AGENESS music online with PA partners
• Show all AGENESS MP3/Stream
• Go to AGENESS page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Songs From The Liar's Lair page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for AGENESS related discussions