THE DAWN

This is the third review I give on a Timelock album, in fact I have the privilege to possess all three albums, they are all jewels. The first two weren't too easy to lay hold of because the SI lable was not in operation for too long so if you didn't get certain albums in time, it was difficult in a later stage to get them. In fact this was one of the later albums distributed by SI music.

It's a very nice album but less than the debut and that's mainly because that one is really very good. This one opens with Emotional Target, a powerfull track making you want more. Next one is to quiet things down a little, but not bad at all. The third is the highlight of the album, almost an epic with a strong instrumental part at the end. Hold on is a ballad with emotional lyrics. Really beautiful. Then a couple of lesser songs come along before Hungry Eyes treats you with highly original typical neo progressive keyboards. Very good track this. Touchdown is a fast track, nice but no more than that. Comets rising is a little bit better in my opinion. And the album finishes off with a short instrumental track, nice but not too spectacular. This album is a good successor of the debut but if I compare it to the first and last of this band it's somewhat less. 3 stars (3,25).

Timelock is an underrated and unfair unknown neo prg band from Holland, releasing so far 4 albums. I had hard times finding this second album named The dawn from 1994 and their third one and next album Circle of deception from 2002. Finaly after many years searching I put my hand on some copies of these albums from a friend of mine . I was very pleasent surprise and really make me think that this second album needs a much better view in prog circles, The dawn is an awesome journey in neo prog world with some fantastic arrangements not far from Saga fame. Musicianship is better and far more intristing then on many well known bands from this field, guitar and specially the keybords are killer on some tracks. A very positive vibe give me the vocalist Ruud Stoker, amazing rage and tonality of his voce keeps changing when needed and without force himself to do that jaw dropping acrobats on almost every tune. I like a lot this kind of voice for this style of music, on pieces like Emotional Target , Between Dusk And Dawn and Napoleon Bonaparte is simply said amazing, I'm realy impressed by his vocal abilities, very melancholic very gothic in tone, brilliant. I said before that Timelock sounds in places like Saga, that neo pomp prog with catchy choruses, awesome musicianship combine with intelligent progressive elements over some grreat lyrics, a thing that must be a plus for this band, because not very often I heared, specialy on a neo prog band lyrics that intrested me so much, usualy are ok and nothing more, but this time thay realy fit with the whole concept and goes hand in hand with the music like aglove, just check out the opening track Emotional target, inspired lyrics for sure. So a big 4 stars for this unknown album, yet a great surprise for me that desearve a better view. Recommended for sure.

The duo of Hollenberg/Driessen, who led Timelock, decided to recruit a normal drummer after ''Louise Brooks''.So Rob Louwers found himself in the line-up during the process of the band's sophomore album ''The dawn''.This was recorded again at the DB Sound Studio in The Hague and eventually came out in 1994 on SI Music.

Musically there was a slight turn on Timelock's sound compared to their debut.While ''Louise Brooks'' was fiery, energetic, in your face Neo Prog with a bunch of magnificent melodies, this one sounds a lot like a blend of Neo Prog aesthetics with modern Heavy Prog stylings, much influenced by RUSH.There is a certain ALEX LIFESON influence on Hollenberg's guitar, the tracks have a typical song format and are mainly based on steady, catchy grooves with plenty of vocals and a fair amount of breaks, as the band sounds a lot like TILES or ENCHANT.Of course Hollenberg also delivers some great solos here and there with this familiar distorted Neo Prog guitar sound, but the fascinating melodies are somewhat sacrified in the sake of atmosphere and groove.Additionally the keyboards of Driessen remain inexcusably on the background, making ''The dawn'' much of a guitar-driven effort.On the other hand the ability of the band to create some memorable tracks as well as Stoker's clean and first-class vocals offer many moments of pure delight.

A step backwards for the band compared the debut's excellent and inspired material.Still ''The dawn'' is a pretty solid release of Neo/Heavy Prog, typical product of the Dutch school, and anyone after bands like TILES, ENCHANT or US act CATHEDRAL will find plenty to like in ''The dawn''.Recommended.