This is surely one of the most amazing, special and dramatic albums ever. I listen to it over and over and still find it completely groundbreaking in both concept and musical style.
Easily said it's Progressive Metal with a lot of atmospheric keyboard, heavy riffs, detailed drums, complex bass and Keith Sudano's brilliant varied voice. These elements are put together into a fantastic symbiosis of a very complex concept story, brilliantly matched with detailed and highly bombastic music. The lyrics are about very personal themes like the struggle in finding the right way, problems with religion, matters of love and so on, very relatable themes. I will try to comment on the different songs.
The album opens in symphonic style with
The Edge (Introduction). It slowly builds into a mid-tempo song with a monster break in the middle with great bass and detailed drums. A good song that sets the mood for the rest of the album.
Fly Away; Well, what can I say. One of the best songs ever (at least). Just the opening with the twin keyboard/guitar play sets me into trance, brilliant. A song full of variation and one of the hugest sing along choruses ever. This song simply has everything. The lyric is very interesting and complex, about the human soul and its journey.
The Confession is one of the most dramatic songs I have ever heard, and like the one just mentioned this is in the same league. I simply love the lyric, which is a critique of organised religion, and that you can have a belief of your own. The music is extremely progressive, lots of changing rhythms and the vocal parts are out of this world. A very powerful and intense song.
The Edge Part 2...(The Looking Glass) is a very strange song. The very fast rhythm section rules and again there are plenty of variation. The vocal lines are in parts of the song sung in an opera like way, strange and not that fitting, but interesting. Not the best song on the album, but still with lots of atmosphere.
A Day In Verse is a ballad type of song, very emotional concerning problems of loneliness, love despair and so on. The chorus is simply brilliant and the keyboard atmosphere is stunning. Also the guitar solo is very melodic, a monster track.
The dark and dreaming atmosphere of
Imaginarium is genius. A long slow song with some very progressive parts and choirs. The keyboard break in the middle simply rules. This song I had to give many listenings, but it became better and better.
The Edge Part 3... (Existence Chapter 1,000,009) is a mid-tempo track with some fantastic vocal parts. The musically details is of very high standard and makes very second interesting.
One of the most progressive and special songs is surely
The Edge Of Madness. Again a stunning vocal performance were different personalities appear in dramatic style. A song about inner struggle and a genius guitar/keyboard duel. The amount of changing moods and melodies are amazing.
Rejection is a totally different song. The most direct song, and also the shortest on the record. The rhythm is a bid odd but this is detail. It is pretty raw and fast, but it still has the changing elements that lift it to a high level.
Baptized By Fire is one of my all time favourite songs. Fuck this song has it all. Melody, drama, epic atmosphere, brilliant lyric about love and inner thoughts. The guitar lead is brilliant and the changes are fantastic. I could go on praising this record but it must have and end.
The Edge...Legacy/Reprise is a natural ending starting with an acoustic guitar and a slow rhythm. The last part has connections with the first song of the album, and ends perfectly in drama and bombastic elements.
The sound is pretty special but in a good way, clear and still with much depth.
The musical performance on this record is perfect. The detail and variation plus all the great atmospheres and melodies is simply astonishing.
This release is one of the most progressive, dramatic and unique ever.
Masterpiece.
Written by
Tommy Friday, January 3, 2003
Show all reviews by TommyRatingsTommy: 10/10Members: 9.5/10 - Average of 2 ratings.
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 | Steen (Staff)
Rating: 9.5/10
This is one of my favourite albums ever. Songs like Fly away, The confession and A day in ... · Read more · |
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