SONGS FROM THE LIAR'S LAIR

The new Ageness album has been long in waiting and the question remains: was it worth it? The answer is: Yes!! This album finally makes their career and satisfies even the most demanding prog fan for sure.

The opening track Entering is a kind of an introduction before the band starts with a powerful drive of the first real song Martial Arts and it's no ordinary song I can tell you! This is one of (if not) the best track(s) I've ever heard: - odd time signature with a groove, strong vocals, catchy choruses, virtuosity, clever arrangement and big harmonies (àla Yes). The singing is very high standard throughout the whole album as the second track The Lie And The Liar clearly shows (with a great opera section in the middle). A hint of 70's David Bowie in Why Don't You Go Away followed by some nice Frippish guitarwork. A poppish track next as Sons Of Madness is a song with a good melody and lots of backing vocals. A calm middle section leading to a furious keyboard solo followed by a guitar driven interplay with the rest of the band. A nicely and accurately performed piano intro leads to the moody and intensive The Lament Of Ghosts, which rivals with Martial Arts about the best track title of this album and indeed has also excellent melodies and even a hard Metallica style variation the song's main theme leading to the menacing ending. The closing track Liar's Lair is a nice ballad with nice vocal harmonies and great melody line. A catchy singalong chorus leads to the calm closing section (àla Pink Floyd), where some of the albums themes are repeated.

All in all, a stunning album from this underrated band. Perhaps this will lead their way to the big league of modern prog, or at least to the higher level than they were before.