THE TIDES RETURN FOREVER

This album is one of my favorite of the new Eloy albums. This is a lot spacier and much more progressive than the last few albums, and has a better concept. Almost returning back to the concept of the Ocean album (which the next album, Ocean 2, will achieve) but the lyrics are style the same style. Two excellent epics on this album make it a must-have in any progressive rock collection. Oh, and this is the first studio album in a while to have that awesome Eloy logo, so amazing.

"The Day of Crimson Skies" is not the best track, but it's the most upfront sounding out of all the songs on here, and is closest to the Destination sound, though the guitar is not nearly as distorted. The lyrics are excellent, as is the excellent vocals. The keyboard sound is really good on this one too. "Fatal Illusions" is one of the two epics from this album, and is my least favorite of the two, but overall, it's near perfection. The intro is really spacey with simmering keyboards trapped over shining and flying guitar harmonics. There is a little solo at the beginning as well, making me remember more of the logos section of Ocean, the 1977 release. It takes about two minutes to get into it and then it really starts to get spacey and very interesting. The bassline and drums keep the rhythm section very well in place, never getting under the mix. The guitars in this song are to die-for, amazing playing by Frank. It takes a little while before Frank starts to sing, but I love the lyrics and I love the tone of voice that he is singing in. "Childhood Memories" is pretty good, nice drumming and soothing guitar and keyboard combo to go with it. It's a farily slow track, but it dosen't really keep it down, honestly. The vocals are really nice on this track, with some really nice lyrics to go with it, nice passionate feeling. Not my favoirte, in fact the worst of the lbum, but it's not too bad, just a little too much drag going on. "Generation of inocence" is alright, not my favorite track from this album, but it's okay. "The Tides Return Forever" is an instant classic. The acoustic intro is excellently played by our very own Frank Bornemann, and it's just beautiful. The lyrics and vocals are so passionated and so intense it just makes you feel like your right there next to Frank while he is playing. I just wish the song was a bit longer, but the music really flows with each other. It takes a while before the drums, keyboards and bass to get it, but it's a good and soothing wait. Thought-provoking music, honestly. "The last in Line" is a farily good pop song, not too bad honestly. The lyrics are good on this one, I'm not too big on the keyboard sound on this one though. The drumming is fairly good, as with the bass playing being up to par, as always. "Company of Angles" is the best epic track on here. Period. The intro is fairly good, with what sounds like an acoustic keyboard instrument (I don't know, honestly, that's what it sounds like to me at least) but the vocals in the intro are really nice too. After the intro, it starts to get into that heavy sound, with a choral sound with all of the vocal harmonies, it's very loud and very forceful. The lyrics that are being sung are intense and make you sweat. This song is pretty much perfection, even that intense ending yet soothing ending.

This album is pretty much the best Eloy has done in years, besides the Chronicles 1 and 2, but those are just re-recorded songs. This album is full of space and prog to share with the world, this album gets a 5 star, easily.