SHANGRI-LA

Since the release of their debut album singer Peter Dahlgren has left the band so composer Stefan Damicolas (guitars) has now taken on that role. The band is completed by Max Bergman (drums) and Gunnar Maxén (bass, keyboards, harmony vocals). Still very melodic the album has seen a movement in some ways more into the progressive field, and the change in singer has certainly meant that the band have lost the Styx element that was visible on the debut. Although the album is quite guitar oriented, the keyboards play an important part as does the bass playing ? this is because the bass sound is quite deep like Chris Squire but it is on a fretless bass which gives the sound quite a different tone.Since the release of their debut album singer Peter Dahlgren has left the band so composer Stefan Damicolas (guitars) has now taken on that role. The band is completed by Max Bergman (drums) and Gunnar Maxén (bass, keyboards, harmony vocals). Still very melodic the album has seen a movement in some ways more into the progressive field, and the change in singer has certainly meant that the band have lost the Styx element that was visible on the debut. Although the album is quite guitar oriented, the keyboards play an important part as does the bass playing ? this is because the bass sound is quite deep like Chris Squire but it is on a fretless bass which gives the sound quite a different tone.

This album does take a while to get into, just because there are different elements being used and I am not always sure that they are working as well as they could. The band are at their best when the guitars are rocking and the keyboards are riding right in behind, being driven on by the rhythm section. The vocals are still strong with loots of layered harmonies and the production (where the band have been assisted by Hansi Cross) is very strong. Highlight is probably "Lunatic Kingdom" where the vocals and music are spot on. I don't think that this is an essential prog album, but is one that should at least be heard.