CROSSING THE LINE

Andrew Roussak , this unfairly little known keyboard player released his forth solo album in 2021 named Crossing the line. I known his previous 3 works, debut from 2008 No trespassing who was more then solid, follow the piano album Blue intermezzo in 2010 and third Storm warning, all 3 were more then great to my ears. In between of his first album and third one he was the keyboard player of german progressive metal band Dorian Opera who released 2 albums . I am really glad that the new album is keeping the same attitude as the debut and previous one, solid compositions, keyboard driven progressive rock, almost all album is instrumental, combining symphonic parts with jazz/classical music passages, his style is very much in Rick Wakeman direction, a thing that I like a lot, and not in ELP direction.

There is as on previous albums pompous and bombastic orchestrations with very nice keyboards, sometimes he almost gone progressive metal, but without being a prog metal in the end. He explores almost everything is to be heared in prog rock zone, changes in tempo, lots of synth solos, nice breaks and moods, elaborated passages, and all is done by Andrew himself, including vocal parts.

Andrew's technique is quite impressive, he handle very well all keyboards, piano, synth with amazing ease, the virtuosic parts are all over the album. He alternates very well the neo prog sound with symphonic orchestrations, most of the time in 70's style prog, as I said very much in Rick Wakeman direction, a thing that I like for sure. Even the keyboards are the center of the sound , the guitar aswell has plenty of memorable parts. Forte pieces are opening Invisible Killer or the title track.

All in all, a fairly good album, I like what I've heard here and his music is needing a far more recognition, in same level with his first release No trespassing (not counting blue intermezzo here) or Storm warning, specially overall sound has that specific seventies-style keyboard-led albums. 3.5 stars for sure, a nice one. Nice art work aswell