BOOK OF THE DEAD

This was bought for me as a xmas prezzie (2009) - and I asked Father chrimbo to deliver it at the same time he was emptying his sacks in my wifes stockings or whatever.....Anyway, I gave it a little spin and THIS IS A GREAT PROGRESSIVE CD. The opening track is impressive, featuring an opening AXE attack from Allan Holdsworth that is just melodic fret picking and yep it's VERY IMPRESSIVE. The singer is very similar to Peter Gabriel and so thats another winner and then we have the very neat and tidy Moog/Organ/Piano work of Ryo Okumoto.The opening epic is majestic and not boring at any point, the production sort of puts it into retro prog feel, I especially get an AS ABOVE SO BELOW sort of composition, it is also reminiscent of many demo tapes that I collected in the eighties. This is the sort of prog I love, loads of mellotron and swirling synths and Guitars - also some nice electric violin.Tracks 2,3 and 5 are all much shorter than the opener (mores the pity) but these are all immensely listenable with nice melodies. The only instrumental track (4) is the weakest on the CD but also the shortest ! I reckon if you know my taste Flower Kings/IQ/Genesis/Yes/Camel then I reckon this CD should be a MUST have for your collection. The opening track alone is FIVE STARS, this is an essential CD for anybody who has a penchant for symphonic prog.