WORMWOOD II

BADER NANA is a Lebanese musician based in Kuwait, he is influenced by many metal and neo-progressive rock bands and has composed for the soundtracks of God of War, Star Wars, battlefield and assassins creed. He released his debut album "Wormwood" in 2011, which is his 5th album and a continuation of S-F history across time and space. Question its melodic, neo like modern prog with metallic escapades; Nancy Alsafady on the violin, Omar Afuni on the backing vocals help him develop a bewitching and varied sound.

'Long Story Short' pompous intro, romantic spleen with piano and violin, symphonic flight and its roll of pads and guitar, a playful metal instrumental progressive movement. 'Star Born' to an EAGLES tune, basic acoustic title, enhanced vocals, simple, self-contained melody that flows naturally; the aerial guitar solo accentuates the clarity of the title with the catchy chorus; Nancy's final violin which brings sensitivity and introspection. 'Mercury' on a space heavy rock riff, pop-rock tune 'Inspector Gadget' with a break worthy of DREAM THEATER for the synth solo that gives the peach 'Same Old Song' and the recurring musical theme with folk pop digression rock opera for the harpsichord, it starts AOR a while, it's vintage 80's but it's well done with a solo still airy and well handled. 'Awake' continues in the same vein, title becoming more rock with its riff and guitar solo stretching over a progressive frame stuffed with strings. 'Journey Home' follows with a medieval Celtic accent, minimal interlude and this voice which is a more colorful, lively, taking far towards 'Earth 1974' and its playground as a preamble for a bucolic ballad title stuffed with violins; a monolithic crescendo and the final guitar resembling that of Brian MAY. Desperate No More 'on a latent tune like intro TV show and a second instrumental prog metal with vibrato guitar in the background; snub with the 'Desperate Measures' from the 1st album; halfway through it goes even further, louder, the vintage keyboards reminiscent of the legendary DEEP PURPLE, the DREAM THEATER for this momentary fury on keyboards. 'Ordinary Life' launches over Neal MORSE BAND, the phrased voice that sticks to it; a track that goes everywhere that is worth listening to by the sensitive break, tearful guitar, slightly tortured. 'The Dream' rolls in with a breath for the last big track, an album debut chorus as a bonus; Bader's voice still warm and expressive, tricks and other convolutions, strings to amplify the sadness, the emotion, everything to finish this album well.

BADER NANA comes close to the most symphonic DREAM THEATER here with the angelic keyboards and guitar, the amazing melodic keys that carry easily. A fairly basic but effective style, modern in the footsteps of SPOCK'S BEARD and PORCUPINE TREE. A raised sound also with the participation of Adel Al-Qattan and Ramzi Ramman who brings back to the heyday of the AOR with their magical solos; a concept album that is new from more or less old sounds, much more interesting than a copy / paste as we see too often lately.