THE POWER TO BELIEVE

Like an acquiring taste with the time I start to understand and admire The Power To Believe, this is the last studio released by King Crimson.

After serving as the opening act for Tool in 2001, King Crimson honed their four-member lineup, leading to the creation of their second album in this format. The Power to Believe was preceded by two EPs, Level Five (2001) and Happy With What You Have to Be Happy With (2002), which offered glimpses into the album's development. Fripp referred to the album as "the culmination of three years of Crimsonising." While Level Five featured live recordings of two tracks that would be included in the full album, Happy With What You Have to Be Happy With was a limited studio release that showcased alternate versions of songs destined for the new album, reminiscent of the transition from 1994's VROOOM to 1995's THRAK.

Initially named Nuovo Metal, The Power to Believe embraced the bold and occasionally industrial sound explored in King Crimson's prior release, 2000's The Construktion of Light, with critics praising its heavier feel. Like its predecessor, The Power to Believe was created with the band operating as a four-piece.

The album takes its name from "The Power to Believe," a four-part suite that flows throughout the work. This phrase first appeared in the track "All Her Love Is Mine" from Adrian Belew's 1996 solo project Op Zop Too Wah. The album's second track, "Level Five," serves as the fifth and final segment of the "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" suite, which began with the first two parts on the 1973 album of the same name. Level Five" was so intense it could easily be confused with the sounds of Tool, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails. The introductory segment of "Facts of Life" includes a sample from "The Outer Darkness II: Perimeter I," taken from Fripp's 1998 album The Gates of Paradise.

The Power to Believe is notable, even more than in their earlier psychedelic prog rock days. The album juxtaposes heavy, unsettling sections with serene interludes, leading some to conclude that In a time of war. While the band retains its signature magic, others feel it lacks the potency of their earlier works. Nevertheless, The Power to Believe has been hailed as King Crimson's best release since 1981's Discipline, though it may fall short when compared to the band's foundational albums.

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