V

Brighteye Brison from Swden was founded in 2001 and released four studio-albums between 2003 and 2011. And now anno 2019, after 8 long years for the fans, here's the new album simply entitled V. I am only familiar with their third effort entitled Believers & Deceivers from 2008, so it took more than 10 years before I had my second musical encounter with Brighteye Brison. Was it worth waiting that long? Yes!

1. The Crest of Quarrel (12.31) : It starts with a long intro featuring sound effects, then Minimoog flights in a tight mid-tempo beat, gradually turning into a slow rhythm. To me the music sounds as a blend of symphonic rock (vocal harmonies and Hammond like Yes), Neo-Prog (tight beats, song oriented) and AOR (Eighties Styx and Kansas). Next a slow rhythm with lush strings, a pumping bass, Hammond waves and warm vocals and vocal harmonies, very melodic, harmonic and accessible, with a pleasant colouring by Minimoog flights and guitar riffs. The final part is bombastic with again the Minimoog, vocal harmonies, powerful guitar and tight rhythm-section.

2. V (17.27) : First an impressive intro with the unsurpassed vintage sound by the Minimoog and Mellotron violins, along fiery guitar. Then a tight beat, embellished with piano, rock guitar and pitchbend driven synthesizer flights, again very pleasant and accessible. Now the music turns into very inspired by Yes its worldwide hit single Owner Of A Lonely Heart, the spirit of this song reigns over the entire composition: a swinging rhythm with rock guitar, vocal harmonies, heavy guitar riffs, like "modern prog meets AOR". Next majestic Mellotron violins, and then interplay between acoustic guitar and the distinctive Theremin, topped by vocal harmonies, an original musical idea. During the rest of this epic composition the music alternates between symphonic rock, Neo-Prog and AOR, coloured by tasteful work on vintage keyboards (Hammond, Minimoog and Mellotron) and harder-edged guitar, it sounds dynamic, melodic and harmonic, the atmospheres shift from hypnotizing to bombastic. In the compelling final part a Bach inspired Hammond solo and heavy guitar with howling runs (Malmsteen, Blackmore and Vai come to my mind), this band knows how to please its fans!

3. The Magician Chronicles - Part II (36.52) : Brighteye Brison now goes to the extreme with this mega epic composition, and presents the most symphonic rock inspired music on this album ( but it also borders with Neo-Prog and AOR at some moments). From the Rick Wakeman inspired intro with the mighty church organ sound and Minimoog flights to the bombastic final part featuring vocal harmonies, a moving electric guitar solo and a lush Hammond organ sound. In between cascades of flowing shifting moods, from dreamy and slow rhythms to mid-tempo and bombastic. This is wonderfully coloured by strong vocals (and lots of vocal harmonies), excellent harder-edged guitar work, vintage keyboards (a lot of 'Minimoog Extravaganza', along Mellotron, Hammond and Hohner clavinet), the distinctive Theremin and varied piano play. The music evoke the sound of bands like Eighties Yes, The Flower Kings, Glass Hammer and Spock's Beard, also very melodic, harmonic and accessible.

Brighteye Brison has delivered a very tastefully arranged album that will please those progheads who like Old School oriented symphonic rock that borders with modern prog, Neo-Prog and AOR.

This review was recently published in a slightly different version on the Dutch progrock website Background Magazine.