ETERNITY

This limited fan site release is a real eye-opener. It's composed of tracks from the early days. When I heard this I was hesitant but hopeful. This is more prog: this is great.

Amplified 99 kicks off the album with a rip-roaring blast. If U2 did prog they'd probably sound like this. This will also appeal to those who like the heavier side of amplifier. Area 51 opens with distorted guitar (hints of the feel of Airbone) and develops into the relaxed and eerie feel that is unmistakably Amplifier.

The Ways of Amplifier is personal favourite. It ahs a mesmeric sliding & gliding bass pulsing throughout. It may divide opinion as there is not the complexity in other songs, but for me the feel is perfect.

My Corrosion is entirely different. Electronic drums, synth. A hazy lazy Floydian vibe. Tremendous. Departure Lounge shows a major Floydian influence. Vocals are much more Floyd, and the lyrics almost psychedelic. There's no great crescendo, the gentle, spaced mood is retained. Number One Son continues the mood.. There's even a bit of a bluesy wah-wah break.

This is amplifier but not as we know it.

If you own one amplifier album & you can get your hands on this one: don't hesitate - it's a gem. It is more authentically prog than the "later" albums.

Considering there really are no bad tracks on this, it's a surprise that nothing were originally planned for release. Even more surprising that these demos and early recordings actually are better than any of AMPLIFIER:s first two studio albums.

Rocking really good, "Amplifier 99" kickstart the EP while "Area 51" and "Departure Lounge" brings some freakish lyrics. "The Ways Of Amplifier" and "Number One Son" may be a bit more anonymous but far from bad, the latter providing a fine closing number.

My absolute favourite in this EP though, is "My Corrosion". With the use of samplings and what sounds like a drum machine this is closer to Electronica than AMPLIFIER:s usual bled of Space Rock and Heavy Metal. Really unexpected and really good!

Speaking of Heavy Metal, I don't consider myself a real fan of the genre since I can't stand listening to whole albums of it. Clocking in at just half an hour, this release fits my Heavy Metal preferences perfectly so there's no complaints from me whatsoever.

With a release limited to just 500, this album, which is a real gem in an already pretty wonderful catalogue of releases, isn't going to be finding its way into many peoples record collections and that is a big shame, because this really is an exceptional mini-album. Issued as a thank you to the fans who have stuck with the band for the last 10 years, it features 6 tracks recorded early in the band's life and, for some unknown reason, never intended for release. There is a distinct prog feel to some of the tracks, but also some post rock; the influences are pretty obvious - there's some Soundgarden, Foo Fighters and yet a real feel for understatement, which the two bands mentioned were or are not famous for. There's Floyd, Killing Joke and Levitation also evident and yet it sounds totally unique. Amplifier could easily have taken the wrong turn in deciding to follow their wall of sound space rock epics, because this shows that there are 3 superb musicians in there with the ability to do subtle. The stand out tracks are The Ways of Amplifier, which is deep, moody, soulful and gritty; My Corrosion which I feel is a true rock classic; Departure Lounge and Number One Son are both quality songs, combining all manner of styles and genres. The album leaves you wondering why on Earth the band thought these tracks were not suitable? Early previews of the forthcoming The Octopus suggests the band have returned to this dark and moody period, despite the album being about a race of super-octopuses who breed humans for their psychic energy! The mini-album comes with an amplifier plectrum, a letter from the band and lots of personalised scribbling over the case and CD. If you haven't got it now, you're unlikely to have the original unless you pay through the nose for it. Which is a shame, because this really has been one of the highlights of 2009.

I feel very fortunate to own all six AMPLIFIER studio albums but I'm even more excited about owning two of their EPs. The first "The Astronaut Dismantles Hal" at over 38 minutes because it was the only thing I owned by them for a long time so it became important. "Eternity" because it's simply the best record I own by this band. It was released in 2009 and thankfully had a re-issue in 2014 when I picked it up. Six songs over 36 minutes and it couldn't be much better to be honest.

"Amplified 99" is a great opener with plenty of energy, catchy too. "Come on and let yourself go." Heavy stuff. "Area 51" is such a cool track with experimental sounds to open and close it. Another killer tune with great vocals. Love when they amp it up each time. "The Ways of Amplifier" has a spacey start then the heaviness rolls in with some attitude in those vocals. Intense, especially after 3 minutes. "My Corrosion" is my favourite. It just doesn't sound like them with the synths? dancing like flute over top as what sounds like processed laughter comes and goes. Who knows? Then organ floods the soundscape. So different but it works to perfection. The warmth, the emotion, just too much. "Departure Lounge" sounds like a PINK FLOYD track from "Division Bell" quite ballad-like with the vocals going up at the end of the sentence at times like Gilmour does it once in a while. My least favourite yet I really dig this tune. "Number One Son" has such an anthemic way to end it repeating those lines over and over. Again it's just different opening with him saying "It's all about balance, it's all about discipline" in a fragile, processed sounding voice. Yeah I think of my only son a lot when listening to this one. So proud!

Four written reviews all 5 stars. I think that says it all.