BRIDGE ACROSS FOREVER

I used to be obsessed with Dream Theater. They would be all I listened to, day after day. One day, I heard about a band named Andromeda. I soon realized there was a lot more progressive music out there. So I began to branch out.

I was listening to a Dream Theater radio station, when a band named Transatlantic popped up. At first listen, it was boring. The songs were half an hour long, and they all seemed kind of slow. So why the five star rating? Well, I eventually began to appreciate Transatlantic and progressive rock as a genre.

So, last summer, I put some money together and bought the first two albums. Bridge Across Forever came first, right before I went on vacation. I played it over and over in the car stereo and fell in love with this album.

The album starts with Duel With The Devil, an amazing piece of music. The beginning starts with quiet strings, followed by piano, then the music explodes into a progressive masterpiece. Everything a prog fan loves can be found here: time signature changes, hammond organ, creative guitar solos and great lyrics! The song switches from section to section, being fast at one point, and then the next second it is a beautiful ballad. 5/5

Duel With The Devil segues into Suite Charlotte Pike. The intro to this song is the definition of groove! It is really easy to get into, especially the amazing bass. After this, the lyrics come in, Neal sounds great! Once again, there are time signature changes, slow parts, fast parts and incredible vocal melodies. The only down side is that the end drags on for a little bit. 4.8/5

Next is a ballad by Neal Morse called Bridge Across Forever. This is his time to shine, and he does! The vocals are exceptionally clear, and the piano sounds great. 4/5

The final track on this disc is the "epic to end all epics," quoted by Neal Morse himself. And oh boy was he right! Stranger In Your Soul , without a doubt, the best song on the CD. The vocals are shared by all four members of the band. And of course, everything that defines progressive music is here. The instrumental sections stand out on this one above all the others. There is even a bit of progressive metal thrown into this absolute masterpiece. 6/5

If you are a fan of any progressive rock, this is a 100% essential album.