THE KING

Strong and solid symphonic rock with a touch of folk, is would you get when you check out the album "The King" by my compatriots and friends from LIFE LINE PROJECT, a project built around multi-instrumentalist Erik de Beer, who is taking care not only of all the keyboard parts, but who also plays all guitar leads. For the riffs and chords he is assisted by guitarist Bram Vroon.

The album starts incredibly strong with the very symphonic and heavy "Opening". It has great synthesizer solos and an extreme virtuoso metal-like guitar lead. The rhythm section, consisting of bass player Remon Bergwerff and drummer Ludo de Murlanos make a solid basis, while the bass even fulfils a solo and melodic part. The song ends with a very beautiful symphonic theme.

The dramatic but subdued "Is This The End" should have been Erik's last song, because of a severe illness, but fortunately that turned out differently. It's a beautiful bad sad song with some very beautiful flute parts.

"Free Passage" is the shortest and the least strong song on the album, but it shows great Hammond virtuosities over a pulsating rhythm. "Dusk" is a very beautiful symphonic rock piece with important roles for the flute and the bassoon. The guitar solo sounds a bit like Steve Hackett and is great.

The title song is only a couple of seconds short of 38 minutes. It tells the story of the rise and fall of a dictator, who abuses democracy and religion to become the leader of the world. The music shows Life Line Project in a very original and captivating symphonic rock. Absolute highlight is the dark and very virtuoso "Doom" with great Hammond and Moog playing and a striking bass solo. "Defeat" is very beautifully sung by Maruschka Kartosonto, assisted in the second part by Yvette Vrij, a short but great sung female duet. The voice of Maruschka reinforces the folk character of some of the music and counterbalances the often massive and overwhelming symphonic rock, dominated by vintage keyboard parts and twin guitar solos.

In the heavy "World Of Steel" Maruschka teams up with Peter van der Stel, emotionally sung by both and another highlight of "The King". The song is preceded by a beautiful theme on the oboe of Dineke Visser, one of the trump cards of the Project. Renaissance dance music can be heard in "Reflections-Saltarello" with lots of recorders, lutes, antique drums and bassoon. Other subtle interludes are supplied by the soft and sensitive flute parts by Erik's wife Elsa.

With "The King" Life Line Project have dared to a create a true own sound. Everyone who loves pure symphonic rock with a touch of seventies' sound (the first version of "The King" dates from 1978), but with a strong character of its own, should try out this album, that captures from the first to the last bar. "The King" is a very original album, the playing is excellent and the sound quality, although produced in a low budget situation is good. The five stars are all well deserved.

Theo Schop