SONGS FROM THE LIAR'S LAIR

When looking at the back catalogue of this band, there are two gaps of about ten years. The first album dates from 1983 and then nothing in nine years. In the nineties they made three albums and now, after more than 10 years, we have a new record. A lot of reviewers say about Ageness that they are heavily influenced by Genesis, if you speak the name out loud you might find the first hint, however, I personally think that the music is more a combination of IQ and Presto Ballet leaning a bit more to the progressive metal style. The latter band to me has the most similarities with the sound of Ageness, a slick production almost cleaned to perfection. I like Tommy Eriksson's singing and for me it fits the music perfectly.

The first track Entering is a symponic keyboard intro with a pulsating rhythm, but Martial Arts is where the fun starts. The timing on this song is very strange, many time changes but not really pushing it, for once a prog-metal band that is not a Dream Theater clone. The music is very melodic with no speedy guitar riffs and is very diverse with many passages of melodic rock.

The Lie And The Liar is a bit in the style of Queensrÿche with atmospheric music in a steady pace, beautiful clear guitar and keyboard solos with the last part of the song being a great big bombastic instrumental piece. Why Don't You Go Away is a ballad with a chorus that is slow and pounding, but despite the fact that it does not alter much, and keeps the same steady pace all the way, is interesting from start to finish. The guitar solo by Speedy Saarinen is again very good.

Sons Of Madness is from a different category, it is highly accessible and provides instant happiness. Normally these songs do not appeal to me but I really like this one, some nice moog/ guitar interplay towards the end. A piano intro for The Lament Of Ghosts which is another epic song and is sculptured very nicely. It sounds more dramatic and this time I somehow begun to think an early -70's Alice Cooper material. The solos are chaotic but fittting the song, Ageness is a band that is not repeating themselves song to song, each one is different. The final part of the song is bombastic and even more dramatic - I love the way the song is built. Liar's Lair is the final track and it reminds me of the final tracks Arena used to play off The Visitor and Immortal?. The song strolls on and on - I love these kinds of endings, which after some bombastic and progressive music is nice to end on a gentle mood. After the last song, there is quiet some time before an encore starts. A bit more powerful than the rest of the album but nothing fancy. I do not think many people will wait five minutes for this - please do not do this again.

So after ten years Ageness is back with a strong album which is progressive rock that sometimes touches prog metal and is very melodic. The sound of Ageness is very clear and perfect, perhaps sometimes it sounds a bit too smooth, however, the main thing about Songs From The Liar's Lair is that it took many spins in my CD-player and it just would not leave. I really enjoy listening to this album. Let's hope we do not have to wait another ten years.