ASCENSION

I had great expectations for the second release from Canadian prog-band INNER ODYSSEY. Begs the trivial question: was it worth the wait? Yeah, 'Ascension' is a fabulous affair! It can literally take your breath away. Beside graceful musicianship and terrific songwriting, young fellows bring artistic integrity. Each song blends perfectly with the concept of metaphorical journey through the life, accompanied by inescapable questions that depend on different age stage. Étienne Doyon is responsible here for the lead singing and percussion. The guitar textures (Vincent Leboeuf-Gadreau) are underpinned by bass department (Simon Gourdeau), while Mathieu Chamberland provides the keyboards intention. The album's opener, 'Why Am I Here (Ouverture)', slowly gains momentum, holding a vibe where nice chords are alternated by powerful work. This segues into 'Something More', larded with the guitar gimmicks, interspersed between agility of keys and tight rhythmic section. Thereafter, 'A World Of My Own', which is replete with sonic surprises and whimsical performance. The middle section contains Spanish-esque fragment. Next up, 'My Purpose' has enough room both for enchantment and for virtuosity. Heir, titled 'Losing Your Mind', sounds at times vigorous, at other moments fragile, but without losing sight of the common message. Again, the intertwining harmonies create a special palette. Drifting 'Crawl' exudes flavour, bound by the vowel system and instrumental passages. Then, things turn to 'Lifelong Misery', using a barrage of potent riffs and intriguing synthesizer lines, thrown in for good measure. Bass and drums battle it out amidst significant signatures. The flute is also present in the mix. Gentle 'Introspection' shows a sense of restraint that's underscored by piano melody and the fine vocal delivery. Bursting out in a prog- metal style, instrumental 'Retrospection' gives offensive template. It's mighty and furious. By contrast, a smooth ballad 'You Are Not Alone' glides to soothe. Its melodic pattern can remind of the opening track. For the completion, comes versatile 'Where It Begins, Where It Ends' (Finale), a melting pot of cool ideas, featuring excellent placement of accents...In sum, I can rate this CD as the strongly recommended purchase! Just imagine, if Pink Floyd, It Bites, Porcupine Tree, Anathema, Dream Theater and Transatlantic got together and worked on one album - it would sound much like 'Ascension'.