HOLLOW EARTH

I was reading a review on progrocks.gr about Hollow Earth's Out of Atlantis and I was intrigued into pushing the play button and eventually I ended up listening to this album from the Swedes several times. But I'm still mixed about what I think of it. Admittedly, it kicks off with a favourite track of mine. The first impression is that it is a keyboard-driven band and that the singer sings in a "hushed" fashion could I say. Anyway, there are some excellent piano runs and keyboard melodies and the vocal melodies are quite interesting. Riders on the Vapour Trail main riff recalls Black Sabbath's Headless Cross played in keyboards. Its atmosphere is haunting and mysterious (as already said, the vocals contribute to it). The title-track is purely instrumental and begins quite impressively with odd-time signatures and in a powerful fashion. Immediately when the intro keyboard riff is over the guitar takes the leading role and although it is not bad, I'm not thrilled by it. Incantation is a more laid-back track with added effects on the vocals. It features some cool interchanges between parts that crawl and livelier ones. After that comes the epic Behind The Ivory Gate which goes past the 16th minute. Things go "normally" until the 3rd minute where a riff in the vein of Black Sabbath again appears briefly but things go on like that for 6 minutes when a wonderful keybord solos comes in. When it's over the song takes a psych slant which reminisces Moonchild from King Crimson and then Echoes from Pink Floyd (and the riff from Iron Man lurks somewhere behind). Clearly there is a wide range from influences which are spliced together gracefully, although hardly innovating but this is not the point, to me at least. The bottom line is that the song goes on quite smoothly through its changes and it doesn't labour the listener. Ave Satánas.... that bookends the album is more rockish, with added effects on the vocals once again on the chorus.

Still can't make up my mind about it, but the thing that every time I listen to it, I listen all of it says something.