THE LIVING DRUM

After the Fall is Connecticut's progressive rock band that have been around since the late 80's, and "The Living Drum" is their fifth studio release. Unfortunately the previous albums were recorded on cassette format. The music of After The Fall is basically a blend of influences from previous legendary bands like ELP, Yes, Saga and a bit of Kansas. There are lots of guitar solo as well as multi-layered keyboard that favor both the symphonic prog music as well as Kansas-like. Altogether, the band has its own identity despite influences from others.

Welcome ELP-like music!

You might be impressed with the opening track "The Year Of The Dragon" (9:40) which has a good combination of melody, harmony and energy. It starts rather symphonic in style with a blast of music combining guitar solo backed by multi-layered keyboard that later flows into more dynamic textures in faster tempo. You bet! This is ELP kind of thing that has been familiar to your ears. Fans of legendary prog music would definitely move into excitement with this promising opening track. When vocal enters the music, it reminds me to the style of Pallas "The Sentinel" music. Again, the pulsating keyboard work is really excellent and it makes me love this song at first listen, no doubt! The keyboard solo is also stunning, augmented with sudden music break using bass guitar as main rhythm section. Great opening track for the album!

"The Mystic" (2:50) is a ballad with 12-string guitar as main rhythm section. "Dancing With Daggers" (8:06) starts with Floydian guitar solo performed in rough mode. The music that follows is relatively fast speed with keyboard layers and guitar riffs as main rhythm section. It's quite dynamic song with stunning keyboard work, tight bass lines. Oh I like the opening part. When the vocal enters, there is a break with something similar like Kansas' music. "Hopeless" (6:29) is another acoustic guitar based ballad. "It All Flows To The Sea" (11:41) brings back the music into form with stunning guitar solo backed beautifully with long sustain keyboard work. "Christina's Song" (2:53) is a nice piano based ballad. "Whitehead Street" (5:00) opens with bass guitar solo followed by ELP style music, followed by Floydian guitar solo.

"The Living Drum" (19:28) starts with a male vocal aca pella that reminds me to the one in "Cry for Help" in Arena "Pride" album. The music enters at approx 1:20 with the sounds of drums and male chanting. It's quite nice intro part. It then flows into guitar riffs and solo while drumming is still performed in percussion style. When keyboard and acoustic guitar works join the music it makes an excellent music. The music then moves in crescendo with changes in drums with electric guitar forms music riffs. As the title implies, this track include drum solo. It reminds me back to "Incomudro" from Kansas, even though the song is totally different.

Overall, this is a good addition to any prog music collection. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW (i-Rock! Music Community)