This is probably more
Vitalij Kuprij than any sane musical listener can handle. You get two full length albums for the price of one and a fourth (the double disc set does command a slightly higher sticker price, but still not as expensive as buying two individual discs. For fans of neo-classical metal, where song writing and sensible structuring takes a backseat to the spotlighted mind boggling instrumental breaks - this is an absolute treat.
Michael Harris is a great guitarist in the spirit of Malmsteen and Kuprij is one of those absolutely insane keyboard players that makes magic out of the keyed instrument. In his hands, its a frenzied weapon that rains down relentlessly. This can be heard in his band Artension and in Ring of Fire. The Ukranian born keyboardist is well known, well loved, and for the niche he fills, deserving of all the attention. He's comparable in ranks to Andre Anderson of
Royal Hunt and the ever lovable Jens Johansson. These are all wizards of the keys.
Vitalij has been standing out a bit more from the others lately. According to his press release he has been providing the piano for flute virtuoso James Galway and has also entertained with piano recitals at Carnegie Hall. Stepping a little out of the metal world are we? This has undoubtedly increased his visibility beyond the limited neo classical world of Artension and his solo works. Harris himself is no stranger to the guitar or being heralded as a master wizard either, having been the core of band Arch
Rival in the 80s and in more recent years performing with David T. Chastain in Zanister.
Here you get two discs, first up is the instrumental solo disc
"Glacial Inferno". This one is brand new for 2007 and finished up recording right at the tail end of 2006. It toes the line between fire and ice, with blistering sunny pieces like
"Fire in the Sun" that explodes like sunflares, to the exotic warmth of the folksy
"Dancing Flame" that teases and swirls like a desert flame. "Liquid Rain" pours down like little needles and takes cover for a blast of synthesizer antics.
"Glacial Inferno" sweeps in with all the ice and cold of winter's fury and the epic sweep that recalls the giant iceblock of a glacier itself. Dark, frozen, terrifying in mass and destructive potential.
"Burning Ice" is finger flying fun and
"Dying to Live" is heavy weighted pleading desperation.
All of these places and feelings painted only with music, sans words. Therein lies the difficulties of the album, being instrumental as it is, and somewhat of a themed album,
"Glacial Inferno" struggles to set itself apart but falls prey to being too much of the same thing. As a technical piece, its a marvel, but for just the joy of listening, it becomes cumbersome and repetitive. A person's mind can only take so many keyboard solos before they all begin to sound the same, especially when they are relentless and neverending as they are here. An occasional outburst in the structured confines of a song, it is a rare, delightful treat. But here, when its the main and sometimes sole attraction, it is taken for granted and becomes part of the mind numbing flow.
"Glacial Inferno", for all its talent brought forth, is still just an exercise in virtuosity and fails at being a cohesive disc that beckons long term enjoyment.
"Revenge" is the second disc in this little two pack. Previously released only in Asian territories in 2005, now the rest of the world can experience more of Vitalij's keyboard antics but with an array of vocalists this time around. Its all very much like the Artension project, which he also heads, but with a theme this time. Its about hard times and trying to fight your way back out from hardship to the light. Very uplifting in theory but the execution often makes it come off as a weird extension of the Artension brand. That's simply Vitalij's style, his imprint. And this, being another of his projects is forced into that small world that spews forth his inspiration. Its a tiny box of goodies he works out of, but for those that are fans of the sound or need a neo-classical injection, on the double, they could fare worse than plundering through this keyboardist's emotional core and worked out solutions from his soul in
"Revenge".
Doogie
White lends voice to
"Burning My Soul", a track where he neither stands out nor fades away. He's just *there*, the voice for another high octane neo-classical wankfest workout. The chorus is a flat cat, wayside roadkill for the chaotic keyboard outbursts from
Vitalij Kuprij. Then again if you paid your coin for this disc, that's likely what you are hoping for an expecting. If that's the case, you get your money's worth and tenfold, because even moreso than in Artension (which is already nauseatingly stuffed with keyboards) he runs wild here throwing virtuosic runs all over the song.
"I Don't Believe In Love" delivers more of the same but with Doogie
White sounding like frosty smoke in a cold wind and the song cooled down in places overall. Not quite as in-your-face on-fire, and still lacking a discernable hook that separates this song from the billions of other virtuosic displays of musical wankery.
"Into the Void" is a cool track that beats an instrumental heart. The rhythm section is funky cool, keeping a steady quirky rhythm for
Michael Harris' blistering guitar to bedazzle over. Its all very reminiscent of the prog/neo classical movement that occurred in the mid 90s. Apollo Papathanasio's vocals are commanding and quite striking in this setting.
"Revenge" has power. It also has finesse and the return of Apollo. The vocals pour out in undoubted conviction and the guitars and keys twine around the soundscape with breathtaking agility. Its another amazing showcase workout of talent, but one that is pulled together to feel like a song instead of just an excuse to showboat. Good stuff, in that strong neo-classical vein.
"Just Another Day" sees Goran Edman quirky enough to stand out amongst the musical invasion. His voice is a chameleon, able to work its way into almost any genre and come out smelling, not like a swampy lizard, but as sweet and mysterious as scarlet dew drop encrusted roses. Its the loveliness amongst the madness, bringing individuality and a sense of melody to the conforming chaos.
"Classic War" is an instrumental fan's dream, plenty of cool performances, clashing together like two forces battling in some great war that we are privy to only through the context of this musician battlesong.
"Emperor's Will" is darker heavier, hitting with force and vengeance, walking on the deathlier side of the metallic force. The grit, grind and darker themes, are a breath of musty air that feels so fresh amongst the crystal clean songs found elsewhere. This fits the voice of Shawn Leahy perfectly.
"Follow Your Heart" seems to be born from the Malmsteen movement and has that midtempo pacing that is jammed with instrumentation in every available orifice. Strong, expressive vocals from
Joe Lynn Turner, help to melt the ice that composes the song structures.
Goran Edman smashes
"Stand Up and Fight" out of the ballpack. The keyboards and guitars dance and twirl like two ballerinas of destruction, dancing to doom on top of the thunder crunch rhythm section of Randy Coven's bass and John Macaluso's drumming. Edman manages to fly in amongst the instrumental backlash and leave his mark.
"Let the Future Unfold" is a wonky wanna-be tearjerker that elicits more chuckles than it does soul stirring emotional outbursts. Its just so hokey, cheesey to the max. The sentiment is there but the delivery of it is abysmally silly. Chris Catena milks it to the point of being ridiculous.
And that about wraps things up. Two discs, one instrumental, one with vocals (and still a few instrumentals), 21 songs in total...for the neoclassical lover, its not a bad deal at all.
"Glacial Inferno", the vocal-less album is a nice curiosity.
"Revenge" has a handful of decent tracks and the rest are average as songs, but masterful where performances are concerned. Their record label was smart to offer this as a package deal, because as a two disc set, its easier to recommend than if the two cds were left to fend for themselves on the market alone.
"Revenge" also gets bonus points for featuring Doogie
White,
Joe Lynn Turner and Goran Edman, three singers that are fan favorites and always a delight to hear. Apollo also makes quite the impressional mark on the material. If this sparks your interest then Kuprij's twosome might be something worth looking into for your collection.
Written by
Alanna Wednesday, March 7, 2007
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