HELLS CANYON

More rock than prog, this instrumental release is an enjoyable listen. Queensryche drummer Scott Rockenfield teams up with fellow Washingtonian Paul Speer for a Tangerine Dreamish cinematic disc.

Hells Canyon is a concept album which would have been much better if the liner notes would have been more thorough and detailed to give the listener a better understanding of the theme. The titles depict a place along the length of this mighty Western U.S. gorge. Speer gives a few notes for each tune, adding some visual component to the music. You can see the Snake River in your mind at it slithers through the surrounding rock cliffs, while the Red Torrent takes the snake through powerful churning rapids. Imagine the Native American's legendary Coyote gouging out the canyon with a stick. Tales of massacres, escape and capture. Plenty of mind candy to go with the aural rollercoaster. More detail in the booklet could have hightened this experience. This is one case where adding more to the non-musical side of the product could have strengthened the overall effect and success. I could imagine taking this theme and adding a DVD of the actual canyon journey together to make an inspiring artistic creation.

This is a cd for those who love their music without vocal intrusion. No barriers are broken, nothing earthshattering, just well played powerhouse music. Three solid stars.