ODYSSEY - THE GREATEST TALE

Some of you know i'm not the biggest fan of concept albums especially if they are double albums. Well this one is a triple album, and it's not your seventies triple album with 2 hours of music. No this is well over 3 1/2 hours in length. We get nine bands with each doing a long suite of well over 20 minutes, in fact one track is over 28 minutes. As usual we get very thick and detailed liner notes with this Colossus project. As I scanned the nine bands who are participating there were three that I was looking forward to hearing. NATHAN MAHL, NEXUS and MINIMUM VITAL. I was familiar with all the bands except for the Italian band C.A.P. who actually turned out to be the biggest surprise for me in a positive way.

NATHAN MAHL are a Canadian band who are fantasitc players and i'm a big fan of their "Clever Use Of Shadows" album. I must admit I was disappointed with this track overall.There are a lot of synths used on this one. In fact when the guitar comes to the fore before 21 1/2 minutes it's a welcomed event. 3 stars for this track.

NEXUS from Argentina are up next and they've never let me down. I think I have most of their albums and the keyboards play a big role in their sound.This is a top three track and worth 4 stars.The organ work is incredible.There are some reserved male vocals but not many.They even turn into a jazzy mode at one point. Great track. GLASS HAMMER and me just don't get along (haha). So I wasn't expecting a lot and they really did surprise me here. I like the chunky bass early and throughout and also the organ and guitar late. Male and female vocals here. 3 stars for this one.

XII ALFONSO from France are next and they impress early with the atmosphere and choir-like vocals. A calm ends all of that around 2 1/2 minutes. I find this one drags quite often. A lighter mood comes in before 14 1/2 minutes. 3 stars for this one.

SIMON SAYS is my least favourite. I just can't get into this band and unfortunately this track is no different. I do like the sampled mellotron though. 2 stars for this one. C.A.P. is an Italian band and they impressed me a lot with this track.You can hear the sounds of pigs then flute joins in followed by acoustic guitar.Vocals before 2 minutes then it all turns more passionate. A calm after 6 1/2 minutes then it turns jazzy then it picks up. It settles again as contrasts continue. Love the section from 13 1/2 minutes to after 16 minutes. 4 stars.

TEMPANO from Argentina opens their song with spoken theatrical vocals as the organ comes and goes.The music kicks in just before 2 1/2 minutes. Some nice guitar after 4 1/2 minutes. I'm most impressed with the guitar on this one. 3 stars. MINIMUM VITAL offers up the best track in my opinion.This band from France has it all. Great sounding guitar, organ and vocals. I love this track ! 4.5 stars.

AETHER was good with that pulsating organ early before the guitar takes over and some nice chunky bass. A calm with vocals 3 1/2 minutes in. Atmosphere settles in before 1 1/2 minutes.The mood and tempo continues to shift. Good song. 3 stars.

So overall i'm giving this 3 stars but keep in mind that every wriiten review on here before mine is 4 and 5 stars.

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