Album Review - Khymera - The Greatest Wonder

Sometimes you just feel it right from the start, you haven't quite taken it all in but you just know you eventually are gonna love it.

The third album from Melodic Rock project Khymera is a roller coaster ride that never lets you catch your breath, sure there are slow, tender moments along the way but they suck you right in and involves you emotionally, just the way they should.
Apart from the intro the material comes of the hands of Tom and James Martin, who has helped along writing material for Ted Poley (Smile), House Of Lords (World Upside Down) and others, lets just say they got a thing for catchy tunes.

A must when exploring this album is playing Borderline louder than your neighbours find amusing, just to feel the rush of pure electricity and unbound life piercing through the air when Dennis Ward screams out I need a miracle, a huge Power Rock anthem.

The heavy guitar backbone of Burn Out goes extremely well with the groovy drumbeat, keeping the track on a steady trail with keys roaring, not it the background but on equal terms. The seconds between 3.08 and 3.10 are unforgettable and adds to the overall tense and otherworldly atmosphere.

The albums main lyrical topic is love in different shapes; Since You Went Away contains a longing pain that comes across so real, desperate and metaphorically vivid reaching its full potential through a thunderous chorus line.
The Greatest Wonder has a moody side too but hope manages to shine through. The back-up choirs are excellent and some of the best I have heard in a long time, kicking in at just the right moments making these vivid songs even more pompous and effectual.
Love Will Find You is purely positive in its expression and a completely amazing song, the keyboard melody is the candy crust topping and the lyric comes down strong and meaningful.

I wouldn't say this fits the softer side of Melodic Rock; the production is up front, heavy and effusive, check out the creative and powerful bass lines in No Sacrifice or the soaring guitar solo. This is a band that knows how to make an impact.
And Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69 bassist) as the singer? Just wonderful. Forceful, expressive and with that something indefinable that makes his voice stand out.

Love Has Been And Gone has some lovely compelling key work from Daniele Liverani, a neat track that just lacks something really sparkling.

At the end of the day I keep getting back to this album; it just won't tear down and keeps expanding. It's one of those discs where more or less every refrain is so delicious that you find yourself singing along to pretty much the whole deal.

Perhaps not the greatest, but this is certainly a magnificent wonder.

Written by Tommy
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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