SHADOW GALLERY

Shadow Gallery ? 1992 (3/5) 10 ? Best Song: Darktown Shadow Gallery were rather unknown when they came about in 1992, despite their taste for melody and more-than-adequate technical ability. More than anything, the success of Queensyrche, Savatage. and Dream Theater around this time overshadowed what numerous budding bands would release. For better or worse (probably much for the better) many bands following the prog metal formula got shot down. These fine fellows, though, managed to pull through and eventually release some great material. Not now, though. Their debut album is a sad, sad, sad remake of Images and Words where the guitars lack real punch. The guy can sing real well ? that's no lie, but it doesn't much matter when your songs sound as if they've been stripped of energy. 'Dance of Fools' is a more complicated take on Elton John, for all my ears can tell. It's nice ? easily accessible and not unlistenable. But who are we kidding here? The band had only begun, and hadn't grown their wings just yet. The melodies are your typical power metal fare, and the jams are quite derivative...even in their potluck surprise of influences ranging from Yes, Fates Warning, and Jethro Tull. The synths are painfully overpowering. Hell, I can't rate it too low, though. I was never offended, and they're nice lads all the same ? no threats to burn down the white house, here, but this material, for all its sheen, is an acquired taste, and that 17 minute epic at the end is just silly.