ARISE

According to the database this is the 22nd studio album by this symphonic prog band hailing from Tennessee. Formed in 1992, I first became aware of them with the release of their fourth album Chronomotree in 2000. This was recommended to me as an ELP/Yes style album and certainly keyboardist Fred Schendel provides plenty of Keith Emerson/Rick Wakeman style licks. They stuck reasonably firmly to this approach over the next 10 years that arguably reached its zenith with the so called 'Jon Davidson' trilogy (If, Cor Cordium and Perilous). Chris Squire got to hear about a vocalist that could reasonably replace Jon Anderson in Yes so Davison departed after 2014's Ode To Echo album where by this time he was sharing vocal duties with the returning Carl Groves. From then on GH became a much more fluid line up with different guitarists and drummers, not to mention various lead singers although they remained remarkably consistent in output.

The current lineup of Steve Babb (vocals, keyboards, guitars), Fred Schendel (drums and guitars on one track) Randall Williams (drums) and Hannah Prior is perhaps their most stable for a while. What's readily noticeable is the lack of traditional keyboards in the mode of Emerson and Wakeman that was so recognizable on many of their albums. Instead, this is replaced by electronic sounds that help create a more atmospheric feel. The general style is now even heavier than recent albums, very guitar dominated especially Steve Babb's muscular bass who is undoubtedly one of the best players of that instrument around.

The concept? Certainly, deliberately very space rock influenced and partially a homage to early Floyd and similar early seventies psyche bands. The album finishes strongly with a few longer tracks (Arise 11.44 minutes and The Return of Deadalus 16.51 minutes). Overall, it comes in at a nice meaty 59.38 minutes. I purchased the MP3 album but I gather this has some very nice artwork and a lovely insert booklet explaining the concept if you get the CD version. If you like their recent albums, you will like this. If you think this is another Yes/ELP clone band and got off the 'bus' around 2014 then hop back on the bus and give this a chance!