AGAINST REASON

This is an amazing band in their own right, yeah there are bits of a number of the "Big" bands in there, but this is a band that rocks and knows how to grab you and pull you in.

My only dissapointment is, I avoided them for years, but I guess that means I got the other studio albums to hear :-)

I ordered this and the live DVD at the same time, and I have watched the DVD, but this hasnt been off of the cd player yet.

Yeah, I guess Birrell does sound a bit Rothery or Gilmour, but to my ears there is some Carlos Santana, bits of Skynyrd and Steeley Dan in there too, Colton is no Fish clone, his voice is amazingly rich and tuneful, melodic even, and like a "proper" singer, a bit like the guy from Del AMitri, with bits of Gillan, Dio, Martyn Turner maybe in there too!

Murdoch plays the bass like a lead instrument, and does some back up vocals, along with Varty, so not sure who's voice is who, but when these three harmonise its brilliant, a real point of difference. The drummer, Martin Mead, is no metronome sort of drummer or sub standard Portnoy clone, he plays the drums like a real instrument.

And then, there is Varty, and I guess it must be difficult for him doing the Pointer script band and then making sure he does'nt just sound like a generic Prog keyboardist or Mark Kelly clone, but, and I dont say this lightly, for my money, he is the best keyboard player in prog.

Onto the album, the reviewers here mostly get it right, but not sure about the 3 star and below reviews, you have to wonder if those people have really listened to the album, or if they just dont like neo prog and do it out of spite.

Staring at the sun, and what a statement, how confident have you got to be to start your album with three minutes of instrumental before the most amazing and instant prog you will ever hear hits you between the eyes. This could be a hit if it was released as a single, even today.

Cardinal Sin is next, dark, dirty, filthy, brooding and scarey, it sucks you in chews you up and spits you out with the abrupt end, the last three minutes show these boys can play as well, if not better than any of their contemporaries at the top end of the proc spectrum.

With Intimate Strangers coming up next, what you get is an intro and outro that alows Tim Birrell to shine, and the middle section is a song that breaks your heart with its sentiment and simplicity, colton will have you hanging on his every word.

Against Reason into Insane seem like they should be joined, so I will assume they are, and this song is just a killer, about the ways mankind justifys killing in the name of religion, not judgemental, non blaming, but amazingly powerful, the guitar sollo and Coltons vocal towards the end make the hairs on the back of my head stand up every time.

Next is Conspiracy (MCF) - I think I know what it stands for as it is hidden in the art work I think!

Clever lyrics, great melody, and good song, but then we get the sublime Reason to Live, deceptively simple, and a beautiful performance from Colton and the back up vocalists.

And then the mighty "Ghosts Of Yesterday", on a you tube clip Colton dedicates the song to anyone who has grown up in the UK in the last 40+ years, and the lyric brings it all back to life - The song's melodies, solos, Chorus and middle section will move you more than any description can say.

Dont miss this great UK band, check out My Space if you arent sure, but do yourself a favour, buy it. It is great has tunes, melodies, songs, everything - Even the art work is great!

Share this CREDO review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to TommyWright
• Report this review (#457375)
• Buy CREDO music online with PA partners
• Show all CREDO MP3/Stream
• Go to CREDO page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Against Reason page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for CREDO related discussions