POSTHUMOUS SILENCE

SYLVAN's Posthumous Silence has garnered a lot of praise from some very worthy reviewers--and rightfully so. The album is a masterful, insightful, emotional, empathic and introspective theatric/ musical rendering of the toll that the psychological pressures of modern human society can exert on its individuals. Theatrically and emotionally it is devastatingly powerful--especially the second half. There is the question of category: neo, metal, heavy, or even prog (i.e. is it really more straight rock, e.g. like TRIUMPH, RAINBOW or JOURNEY?) As a vehicle for an amazing story, and as a vehicle for showcasing the extraordinary voice talents of Marco Glühmann, Sylvan have succeeded extraordinarily well.

Highlights for me include: the gorgeous "Pane of Truth", despite being a little too long and drawn out), the psychologically powerful and disturbing, "Forgotten Virtue"; the beautiful and more progressive, "The Colours Changed"; the song that really sucks you into the disturbing world of mental illness, "Questions"; the classic rock anthem with a social-political message, "Answer to Life"; the theatric highpoint of the album, "The Last Embrace" (Wow!), and the final two songs which drive the two-sided message home, "A Kind of Eden" and "Posthumous Silence" (Wow! And, Whew! I'm worn out! Aren't you?).

1. "Eternity Ends" (2:03) (5/5) - 2. (I) "Bequest Of Tears" (3:19) (9/10) 3. "In Chains" (8:38) (17.25/20) 4. (II) "Bitter Symphony" (1:20) (4.25/5) 5. "Pane Of Truth" (9:06) (20/20) 6. (III) "No Earthly Reason" (1:57) (4.5/5) 7. "Forgotten Virtue" (6:43) (9/10) 8. "The Colors Changed" (5:58) (9.5/10) 9. (IV) "A Sad Sympathy" (1:42) (5/5) 10. "Questions" (6:59) (12.75/15) 11. "Answer To Life" (5:56) (9/10) 12. (V) "Message From The Past" (3:00) (10/10) 13. "The Last Embrace" (3:27) (10/10) 14. "A Kind Of Eden" (4:55) (8.75/10) - 15. "Posthumous Silence" (4:59) (10/10)

Total Time: 70:02

Five stars; a true masterpiece of progressive rock music and an essential addition to any music lover's collection. Marco Glühmann may be the most gifted male vocalist of the 21st Century. (I bet this story is amazing to experience live!) An album that simply deserves to be heard in full, start to finish, for it's brilliant storyline.