HINDSIGHT

Final Conflict did not avoid another long gap between the third and fourth album.Apparently tired of chasing labels and searching for a new contract, they invested on their own Gaolhouse Studio and decided to establish their own recording label for promoting their albums.''Hindsight'' would be the first in line of FC albums to follow on Gaolhouse label, it was released at the fall of 2003.

Inbetween the new incidents Final Conflict also decided to take a long trip to the past and revisit their very early days, when their material had still a rockin' touch, but was simultaneously based on the principles of MARILLION and the likes.As a result ''Hindsight'' features a more elaborate and melodic sound, always based on supertight songwriting and rich guitar and keyboard backgrounds, the material reminds me a lot of the lyrical songs of Fish-era MARILLION, albeit with a slightly harder touch.They tend to even plagiarize some of the masters' tunes from the 83'-85' period with the flashy and dreamy keyboard interludes, the light guitar moves and the strong lyricism, but the rise of the electric guitars and the overall dynamics are definitely trademarks of Final Conflict.''Hindsight'' appears to be one of the most balanced albums of Final Conflict, keyboards play a dominant role now and the furious electric solos are sitting next to them in a bunch of well-composed and -executed, long tracks with some minor symphonic touches and the always playful style of British Neo Prog.There are even some laid-back, almost spacious keyboard themes included and, despite the limited room for extended instrumental work, the album flows quite nicely in a convincing and grandiose musical enviroment.

One of the Final Conflict albums you should track down.Marking a new era for the band, ''Hindsight'' has this unmistakable MARILLION-esque magical touch and comes as a warmly recommended album for all those into song-based still intricate Prog Rock.