STARFOOTED

This is American band METAPHOR's debut from 1999. These guys started out as a GENESIS cover band before composing their own songs and putting out this album. Certainly the GENESIS flavour is very strong throughout this concept album which is about the belief's of a gnostic. At almost 74 minutes it's way too long though, take off 20 minutes and I would like it a lot more. I do like it better than the follow up "Entertaing Thanatos" even if that record has a more original sound to it than this one.

"Ladder From The Sky" opens with almost spoken words as the sound builds. I like the angular guitar with the sampled mellotron here.This is one of my favourite sections on the whole album. Synths take over for the guitar late and the drums become more prominant. "Chaos With A Crown Of Gold" opens with piano followed by a fuller sound including guitar. It settles with vocals 1 1/2 minutes in. They do get theatrical before 5 1/2 minutes. "Starfooted In A Garden Of Cans" has a 1 minute intro then the tempo picks up. It settles with organ breifly before 6 1/2 minutes. Another calm after 8 minutes. Almost spoken words 10 minutes in as the tempo continues to shift often. "The Illusion Of Flesh" is a short tune with acoustic guitar and reserved vocals,although it does get fuller.

"In The Cave" is led by mellotron and drums early then vocals join in. This reminds me of FRUITCAKE I must say. It's fairly laid back really. "Seed" opens with some atmosphere before vocals and a beat take over 1 1/2 minutes in. This is very GENESIS-like. More atmosphere after 5 minutes. Strummed guitar then vocals after 6 1/2 minutes and a fuller sound follows. "The Bridal Chamber" is a short tune that opens with strummed guitar as soft vocals join in. Drums and piano follow. It settles again late. "Don't Sleep" opens with mellotron then it kicks in around 2 minutes. I like this especially the bass. It settles back before 7 1/2 minutes to the end. "Battle Of The Archons" is one of my favourite tracks at least until the vocals arrive before 5 1/2 minutes. Nice bass in the first half of this one. "Assumption" is the short uplifting (musically) conclusion of strummed guitar and vocals. Keys do come in and mellotron.

Once again a good album but with lots of flaws as far as my tastes go.