SEASONS END

After the cataclysm we all know, how could Marillion survive ? IMO, Marillion was Fish and Fish was Marillion. After an attempt from Fish to sack Marillion's manager, the members of the band decided to proceed the other way around : they just sacked Fish ! In the game on whether to know if the Fish era was better than the Hogarth one, I will play as well. My vote goes definitively to Fish.

His charism, his personality, his voice, his song-writting has nothing to do with Hogarth's one. While Fish was all emotion, Hogarth is all mellow.

Marillion Mark II is a completely different band. I guess that the shock was enourmous amongst the fans when it happened. If only they had done like Genesis when Peter left ! Trying to find a singer that could remind some of the grandeur of their frontman (even if Genesis won't find it and opt for Phil). Nothing as such for Marillion, I'm afraid.

There are a few good songs on this album, but do not try to find any epics nor great tracks. IMO, the best are the opening number "The King of Sunset Town" although a bit too long, "Easter" and "Season's End". "Uninvited" and "Hooks" will break the melancholy.

But songs as "Berlin", "Holloway Girl" (the worse of all) and "The Space" are rather dull and all very similar. During my Marillion mania (which took place very late as I have already mentioned), I bought a great lot of their work. All in their remastered and double CD format.

At least you'll get a nice packaging with useful information for about the price of one CD. This bonus CD won't have the flavour of the ones from the Marillion Mark I era. A couple of single releases (not bad actually) : "The Bell in the Sea" and ..." The Release" are OK songs. The demo tracks are not really useful.

The change of lead singer has drastically influenced the sound of the band. Not only in the voice but on the style as well.

Marillion Mark I had recreated the passion one could have felt for another great prog band (I guess you know which one I'm talking about). Marillion II will be an unemotional band displaying mellow and dull music for most of their work. This effort not being their worse.

Two stars.

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