TALES & THUNDERS

'Voyager' NASA tribute for departure to the moon; dark, synthetic melodic air, compositional latency, hints of Led Zeppelin; rhythmic heavy rock with distinctive percussion which changes with a guitar solo from Dave; heavenly finale. 'A Last Chance' acoustic guitar before a violent break, cinematic drift in voice-over on covid torments then resumption of the melodic tune, spleen, a nod to Tim Bowness; final between the anguish of breathing and the joy of birth. 'Nosferatu' says it all; dark intro before the start on Wavian pop rock; heavy riff reminiscent of Killing Joke with out-of-tune tune; Derek's lugubrious synth amplifies the riff before launching into a thunderous solo, a reminder of the heyday of Dream Theater, singular. 'The Way of Shaman' homage to the Lakotas with the narrated intro, tribal percussion, a consensual melody; the break on a flash with trumpet, hard metallic guitar and percussion accompanying cries in trance for an ending between mystery and darkness.

'Endless Night' intimate atmosphere, crystalline piano à la Joe Jackson, an ambient jazzy-prog rock air dotted with percussion and metronomic bass; text about wandering after a breakup; an airy trumpet drives home the jazzy, melancholy side of this endless night. 'Dark Father' returns to the land of the aboriginal Indians with a Didgeridoo introducing Darth Vader of whom Gabriel himself is a fan; synthetic sound, catchy riff, volleys of notes and an instrumental reminiscent of 'kashmir'; dark, spatial, grandiloquent and folkloric atmosphere with these choirs from elsewhere; symphonic, metallic, frenetic and captivating. 'Area 51' follows with the metallic intro ambient siren of a ship in distress; futuristic sound with sudden riff; the soaring and latent synth. 'Even to the Edge of Doom' ends with Romeo & Juliet in the background and this Love stronger than Death; narration on atmospheric synths, then other aqueous, sparkling ones and a guitar that emerges: Steve from the Marillion; when latency combines with spleen for a prophetic solo about our chance to escape the doldrums; an opportunity to confirm his talent on these beautifully melancholy notes. Gabriel Agudo launches a message, that of enjoying the happiness of Life.