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Album Reviews
# of "Main" reviews: 359 (mean score: 8.5)
# of additional "User" reviews: 547
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Origin: Italy
These progressive metallers released a five-song EP Evolution in 1996 and followed that with their debut full-length cd The Global Village in 2000. Their sound is pretty similar to many other prog metal acts of the same era, so they probably deserve the "DT clone" classification. And like other DT clones, their talents are evident but their song writing is a step down.
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The Global Village (2000)
B 8.3
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It's funny how the "DT clone" designation is mostly used to categorize bands whose material is distinctly weaker than the early Dream Theater stuff that made them so often imitated. Such is the case for The Global Village, when you compare it not just to DT's fine early works, but the many other classic releases in the genre. The album shows that band has chops, but it lacks the genuine flair that separates discs like this from the real gems. Lyrics are pretty shaky, and the failed English pronunciation by the lead singer only makes it worse. (So much so, that any potential that the album's internet-based concept had is quickly lost.) Musically, the song structures -- even after several listens -- seem a bit haphazard and misguided. While some melodic moments stand out, much of the cd stays pretty much faceless. I did enjoy some of the guitar work on the album, more so in the soloing than in any of the riffs, but still that shouldn't be taken for granted -- the passionate solos in "Time in the Ice" and "Darkened Rooms" are living examples of why I love music. But, nevertheless, off-setting the album's positive virtues such as these are tracks that mostly just move around without much excitement at all (including a seven minute instrumental that has almost no voice whatsoever). Fans of anything metal that is progressive and time-shifting with soloing keyboards/guitars and strong vocals might really eat this up. In my opinion, it's an average outing. (12/15/2005)
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