CARVED IN STONE

The most appealing prog metal band to me is undoubtedly the legendary Shadow Gallery from the United States, a band that existed from 1987 to 2009. The unexpected death of their singer Mike Baker due to a heart attack in 2008 casts a huge melancholic layer over the band. A year later, Shadow Gallery attempted to continue with a different singer, but the magic was gone.

Their entire output of six studio albums greatly appeals to me thanks to a skillful combination of melodic passages and thundering prog metal. At times, there are gripping choruses, at other times, dazzling guitar or keyboard solos. The drums thunder regularly, the piano often sparkles and sometimes you dance along with the flute. In this regard, Shadow Gallery created a true masterpiece with their second album "Carved In Stone" from 1995.

The architecture of the album is sublime, as expected from a record that is carved in stone. We see 20 tracks, but it seems like more than it is. The first 12 pieces are actually six songs that are followed by short instrumental pieces called Interludes. Tracks 13 to 19 are all part of the epic Ghostship and track 20 is a hidden track. So, there are only seven actual band songs, but wow, those 20 tracks form a fantastic whole.

Cliffhanger opens the ball with keyboards and piano, followed by an acoustic guitar taking the lead. When the electric guitar pleads for attention and the vocals fill the space with all their expansiveness, you know you are listening to a special album. However, you can sense that something is about to happen. The song bursts open into a thundering section of prog metal, full of dazzling guitar and keyboard solos, a treat for fans of Dream Theater, Yngwie Malmsteen and Symphony X. Eventually, the song calms down with the first Interlude. The seductive Crystalline Dream follows. What a fantastic foundation lies beneath it. Applause to drummer Kevin Soffera, especially considering that the previous album was made with a drum machine.

It is great that Shadow Gallery constantly explores the variation of piano play. In that context, there are also two more mellow songs on the album, Don't Ever Cry Just Remember, a power ballad with a delightful flute passage and the sparkling Alaska, which can be compared to the softer side of Kansas.

What the band is truly about is undeniably the pure melodic prog metal, as heard in Warcry and Deeper Than Life. Brendt Allman once again emphasizes that he is a phenomenal guitarist, a cross between John Petrucci and Kerry Livgren. Deeper Than Life is such enjoyable prog metal, the coolest song ever.

The epic Ghostship, which concludes the regular album, is an almost 22-minute showcase of what Shadow Gallery has to offer. This piece is quite fragmented, but that adds value here. Thundering prog metal with fiery solos goes hand in hand with dark sections and an excellent piano passage, before closing with a beautiful melodic track. The album has a hidden track, a typical phenomenon of the 90s. After a not-too-long silence, someone knocks on the door until it is opened and we find ourselves in the paradise of Vangelis for a few minutes.

The conclusion is short but powerful: "Carved In Stone" has it. Need I say more.

Originally posted on www.progenrock.com