PANDORA'S BOX

This album is released by second incarnation of Gerard. Keyboardist Toshio Egawa is leading figure there as well, but comparing with band's first two bombastic albums, this one is really serious step ahead.

First of all, there are great fusion influenced rhythm section presented, and all music sounds much more modern and complex. If there were mostly kind of ELP -parody heavily keyboards based music, recorded on band's earlier albums, on Pandora's box you can hear quite modern (ok, still heavy keyboards based) fusion influenced progressive rock. UK (band's) influence is obvious, but keyboards sound is much modern, and all music is much better balanced. Even vocals (non-Japanese vocalist this time) are quite pleasant, even if not very original.

In fact, weakest point of this album is composition - if at the beginning it sounds quite melodic, very soon you hear one never ending song. Complex, with competent instrumentation, not very original, but one long song. And your interest to this album decrease very soon.

Much better work then few first albums, this album is still not original enough to become attractive for every prog lover. But for fans of bombastic fusion influenced symphonic prog this music will sound interesting enough I believe.