THE ODYSSEY

When reviewing well known album, I do one weird thing. I roll over reviews and pick one of them and read one thing. Sometimes more, today just one thing. But this was easy catch. So to respond: Indeed, this is not album to start with, but this album's epic track could be. I would advise to start with their following one, "Mythology Suite".

I can rate these two, I've listened them again one after another and so differences are clear. By average rating, it's their best compared to their almost best. Well, this one is less melodic, but (now I'll leave Mythology and focus only on Odyssey) Ulysses (I don't like this name, in my language, it sounds like word, which has equivalent in English language with word "sleazy"), as he's on his journey (or, hehe, odyssey). This journey is more fascinating in some things, like that it uses less expected structure, melody and other things, except words. Lyrics are quite clear to guess, it's about famous tale (at least here in Czech Republic, I know it from school, good old book called "Old Greece fables and stories" - shortened Homer, about gods, Heracles...) about man seeking his home & finally redemption. Turn point of entire album is 8. The Odyssey (24:09). From first fanfare- like tones to last acoustic outro reminds me something I knew all my life, but wasn't (and I'm not) able to describe appropriately. Something of great beauty, adventurous. Mix Odyssey and metal and my memories on this story in modern, metal take and you get this. This synth (emulating instrument I can't remember which one) from 6:50-7:04 reminds me very much music of one game from my youth, Warcraft II. Also fantasy like setting. And first three minutes, do I have to say more ? However, vocals here are sometimes almost of growling type. Or at least very harsh. Not bad, but it's interesting that I actually don't mind this.

5(-) because some flaws occurs (like some unnecessary parts happens), it's not so easy (in fact, it's quite hard) to conquer my heart. Only few managed to do it and those get 5(+). This one is close.