THE KING

The madness and megalomania of a demagogue, who is prepared to abuse both religion and democracy, form the basis for the story of this brilliant concept album by LIFE LINE PROJECT. Worked out in several stages, this is the final version of this symphonic rock epic. Mastermind and keyboard wizard Erik de Beer has gathered around himself 12 other musicians to record this album. Apart from the regular band line up, we find, as so often with Life Line Project, a flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and several recorders to embellish the arrangements. Other rarely heard instruments are the lute, mandolin, chitarrone, harpsichord and a baroque guitar. There are two beautiful majestic main themes, which return in several parts, throughout the work. The music ranges from harmonic symphonic rock to folk (Saltarello) and from pseudo-gospel (The Chosen Ones) to more metal like pieces in Democracy & World of Steel. Progressive rock highlight is the fantastic "Doom" in wich LIFE LINE PROJECT show everything they have got. The most beautiful song is without any doubt "Defeat", a tender duet, sung perfectly by Maruschka Kartosonto and Yvette Vrij, accompanied by acoustic instruments. The work ends with te same mournful theme as it started with. Thus everything has been in vain. The King is preceded by 4 shorter tracks. "Opening" is the pulsating and heavy symphonic starter and contains an incredible virtuoso tapping solo on the lead guitar. "Is This The End" is a more melancholic song, written by Erik when he thought he had a terminal illness and it was actually meant as a musical testament. Fortunately fate decided otherwise and Erik is still with us. "Freeway" is a very dynamic keyboard based composition, in which the organ and Moog are energetically accompanied by the bass and drums. "Dusk" is a more introverted symphonic rock piece, based on the beautiful flute playing by Elsa de Beer, accompanied by the other winds and leading to a very Hackett-like concluding electric guitar solo. I can recommend this album to every true symphonic rock lover and I will therefore reward it with five stars! Whistler.