IMPENDING ASCENSION

Magellan's second release, "Impending Ascension", follows the footsteps of their first album with similar movements, styles and progressions only that here they managed to improve even further musically. It's more mature and displays a better directional improvement and balance over the arrangements, but still keeps itself within the style of their first album. The music is adventurous, creative and interesting and the arrangements are incredibly complex and progressive but Magellan melts these combinations together with ease resulting in an incredibly technical but melodic album overall. It's very bombastic but some might find this stuff pretentious and overblown, like some of Emerson Lake & Palmer's works but I love it, mostly because of the creative and unique music featured here. A blast of prog-rock, neo-prog and prog-metal, combined in a very creative way. Fans of those three sub-genres should like this album, but you have to be prepared for a pretentious ride, but I found this one incredibly rewarding and downright addictive. I listen to it quite often. Too bad it's so underrated!

There are seven tracks here, and the highlights are obviously the three 11-minute epics that goes over half of the albums playing time. These tracks are some of Magellan's best and goes through some really great parts, complete with many interesting twist and turns in the music with rapid yet structured progressions. All three are equally as good, in my opinion, and captures Magellan at their creative peak just like on the "Magna Carta" epic from their debut album. The shorter tracks are also good, with "Virtual Reality" being a standout musically. Like the albums epics, these tracks are complex and creative with the only low point being "Under The Wire" which is a rather pointless song. Still good though. The musicianship throughout the album is excellent and Trent Gardner's keyboards is effectively used not only as a lead instrument, but also as a important role to their sound. Wayne Gardner's guitar works is also great, switching between gentle to heavy at the right spots in the right time, while the drum-machine follows the music well, and like on their debut is used effectivly without sounding tiresome. A very even album overall.

This became one of my favorite albums after several listenings, though it is an acquired taste for some. Some find it too modern and sterile, others find it too pretentious, but I love it regardless. I would highly recommend it, but you have to be prepared for a ride outside the normal standards. One minor flaw ("Under The Wire") but otherwise excellent stuff. Give it a try, It might not appeal to everyone, but It sure did appeal to me! 5/5!