AT-KING

Looking at some comments of the past this should be one of the worst albums on this site but if you look at the ratings without review it's not that badly awarded with several 4 star- and even a 5 star rating. But all in all an average of 1,93 doesn't give much hope for something great or at least nice. But I'm a neo lover, freak even and I decided to judge for myself by still buying this one (sales) despite an avoid and a not recommended by prog reviewers.

First (short) track suggests we're in the middle ages with some apparent sword fighting, well in fact so does the cover artwork so that's probably the idea here. An insignificant little song for an opener, an overture for the rest. Second is a real song but it's not very impressive and the indeed poor production becomes evident. Third, After and After, is somewhat better, more like a real neo sounding song with nice guitar and more variation than the slightly monotonous Turning Night into Day. Not bad this one coming close to a three star effort. Side one of this original vinyl scoring about 2,3 for me.

Second side opens with two short tracks. The first, Chinese Dawn, with hints to Chinese sounds is an instrumental, nice without being great. The second, March of Destiny, indeed sounding like a march with medieval tournament feel, is a sort of upbeat for the final epical title track, supposedly but also in reality by far the best track of this EP (this album is so short I wouldn't want to call it a real album, even for vinyl standards). This song is neo prog how I usually expect it, a genuine neo epical song with interesting compositional variation. Although I have to say the vocals are slightly annoying here especially when Patrick Fragnere does his high pitch efforts. This is not helping the song to a high level. Not by chance I believe the middle part of the song is the best as it is mainly instrumental.

In the end also this track can't save this EP from a two star rating. Side two scores about 2,5 for me making it a 2,4 overall so I will have to round down to two stars. Slight consolation for Deyss: I've heard worse in my life. So the reviewers were right and the raters not in my opinion although it will always still be a matter of taste.