INTO THE SUNSET

Among his usual obligations in Lana Lane's albums and after the fourth album of Rocket Scientists Norlander found time to write a second solo work, ''Into the sunset''.This was released in 2000 on the Dutch label Transmission Records and features an expanded line-up compared to the previous Norlander album, teammates Greg Ellis and Mark McCrite helped out on drums and vocals respectively, Tony Franklin is on bass, the experienced Arjen Anthony Lucassen is on guitars and Cameron Stone provides the cello parts.Lead and harmony vocals are sung by an impressive guest list, Lana Lane, Kayak's Edward Reekers, Glenn Hughes and Robert Soeterboek.With so many guest musicians and singers, the album was recorded at four fifferent studios worldwide.

Change of label and the singning with the more Metal-oriented Transmission Records along with the presence of Arjen Anthony Lucassen rises suspicions about the album's direction.Norlander makes it clear already from the first few pieces that this has nothing to do with the sound of ''Threshold''.The music is much heavier and bombastic compared to the previous album, a step away from Norlander's Prog Rock roots and towards a style between fiery Hard Rock and orchestral Prog Metal.Of course his keyboard work is so good to exhibit it in a seminar, full of cinematic flashes, 70's-styled organs and pompous synthesizers with a sound somewhere between the runs of Lord with DEEP PURPLE and the virtuosic parts of DREAM THEATER, but the addition of guitars along with the an obvious tendency towards Hard Rock rhythm and lead parts show a different side of Norlander.Touches of DEEP PURPLE, URIAH HEEP and RAINBOW combine with the modern sound of Prog Metal and Heavy Prog to offer music swirling around punchy riffs, extended keyboard solos but also some melodic content and atmospheric breaks.Despite the most straightforward direction the album sounds very tight and inspired with some great instrumental and vocal work, while the proggy vibes are not of course totally lost, there are lots of great tempo changes, instrumental variety and keyboard majesty in here, delivered via Norlander's love for an E.L.P.-like dense, symphonic sound.

Good work for fans of the harder side of Prog, which still retains some of Norlander's qualities towards keyboard-drenched Symphonic Rock.Extremely bombastic and pompous material with a rich sound and a good balance between instrumental and lyrical parts.Recommended.