SKIES DARKEN

It's been a while since we heard from these guys but with Skies Darken it was well worth the wait! Once again we are treated to Cyrus' brand of quirky storytelling, complete with nursery rhyme references and occasional maniacal outbursts, as in the very strong track "The Hunting Of Johnny Eue" with it's "FEE FI FO FUM" vocals or the evil snickering that appears at the end of the otherwise pretty track "Spiders In Undergrowth".

The album's centrepiece track is surely the lengthy "Coming Down / The Fountains Of Sand / Delivered Up For Tea / Death And Rebirth". This is one of those 'journey' songs where the listener is treated to different moods, tempos and approaches, all the while featuring memorable melodies that will please any prog lover - and this is the important ingredient so often missing from other releases of this genre. Although the previously mentioned "Johnny Eue" is a terrific and strong track, this one is certainly another that will give core CC fans what they really desire (they won't be let down by *any* of the tracks, actually).

Terrific writing and playing, a good sense of storytelling, instantly likeable melodies and delicious lyrics add up to a nice long album that you can really sink your teeth into - but it does not seem as long as it is. And that's a very, very good sign. It's refreshing to have an album of this epic scope where there are no 'skipper' tracks.

Only time will tell if Skies Darken will unseat Somewhere But Yesterday as the best Citizen Cain album, but at this early stage, to my ears, this is the best thing they've ever done. I've spun the disc about a dozen times in a very short space because it is just so good, and that's really saying something considering I constantly have a huge stack of cds to go through... the ones that simply aren't as good get shelved rather quickly. This is not one of those. This album is a winner. Well done, lads. Recommended!