KEY TO ETERNITY

With Eric Fuller now permamently taking over the bass duties Visual Cliff would move on to the recordings of a secnd album in 2004, ''Key to eternity''.''Lyrics for the living'' became a sell-out after all and the decision for the making of a sophomore work was pretty easy.The album was released on Rob Perez'es self-distributing Trinity Records.

Another solid instrumental Prog Rock effort by the Americans, dominated by the heavy guitars and the measured use of keyboards and piano, this work was pretty much influenced by RUSH and their take on intense and dynamic music, filled with tempo changes, atmospheric breaks and orchestral keyboards.Very modern-sounding stuff, where the sound of Perez'es guitars prevail, both in acoustic and electric deliveries, occasionally moving into tight Heavy Fusion with the style obtaining a jazzy feel through the endless electroacoustic moves and the variety of rhythms and solos.It's not a very complex album, albeit technically efficient, ''Key to eternity'' even contains some pretty hard riffs and there are even moments with a sinister KING CRIMSON instrumental mood.Perez appears to be the main hero here, but the album features also an extremely consistent rhythm section and the injections of orchestral keyboards and piano lines by Rob Klan add an even deeper and convinving sound.A dose of similarity between the tracks is evident throughout the listening, but the material overall is well-played, executed with tension and offering a good composing level.

Instrumental Heavy Prog with Fusion leanings.You will love this stuff especially if guitar-dominated music is among your preferences.Recommended.