CREDO - Against Reason (2011)

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With almost a 20 year-career but only two albums under their belt, Scottish Neo Progsters CREDO are releasing a new CD; "Against Reason".
Debut 'Field Of Vision' in 1994 enjoyed some success in the UK and Neo Prog strongholds across Europe. Credo toured the continent and set to work on a second album in 1999, but following an appalling run of bad luck, ill health and assorted disasters, few people expected the new album to see the light of day; or even to see Credo on a stage again.
However, with a lot of hard work and determination, 'Rhetoric' was released in 2005 - exactly 11 years to the day after their debut! The disc was exceptionally well-received, gaining universal praise, and is rightly viewed as a giant leap forward for the band from their debut CD.

Musically, Credo is a true Neo Prog band: Symphonic Prog Rock with more guitars, less pomp and lots of emotional, pleasant melodies. They are heavily influenced by the first Marillion / Fish era.
"Against Reason" sees this band reaching another level completely in terms of songwriting and performances, bolder, more complex and exciting, while still retaining their fine melodic sense.
With a right production and strong musicianship, everything works on "Against Reason". On the tasteful arrangements you hear chimming electric guitars, elegant keyboards lines, brilliant bass runs and a versatile drummer. Singer Mark Colton has a very good voice and a fine dramatic interpretation that, while still showing Fish's influence, is now very much his own.

The album opens with the 10 minute "Staring At The Sun", an environmentally friendly number which hits the ground running with an attention grabbing synth burst introducing the album's most anthemic track.
"Cardinal Sin" ventures into sensitive and emotive areas, with Birrell's lead guitar capturing the emotions of the song beautifully, while Colton's vocals expose the full drama of the lyrics.
"Intimate Strangers" features the voices of band in full harmony, before concluding with a fine instrumental section. The title track is the only completely instrumental tune on the album. A relatively brief piece, it offers a relaxed interlude between the stronger numbers which surround it.
"Insane" takes on the weighty topic of what people will do -especially in terms of violence- in the name of religion. Understandably, this is probably also the heaviest track musically too.

"Reason to Live" is the shortest track on the album, and thus acts as a second respite among its weighty peers. The song is a reflective harmony piece with atmospheric floating synths.
"Conspiracy (MCF)" deals with the dearth of truth and conspiracy theories in modern society. There is a bit of a Genesis feel to the track in the Banks-like synth breaks too.
The album closes with what for me is the best of the bunch. "Ghosts of Yesterday" reminds me in passing of the earlier days of Arena. Lyrically the song looks at the human impact of political decisions, in particular those relating to traditional industries. This 13+ minute epic is performed at a regal pace (dictated by the ticking clock which opens the song). Beginning as a quasi-acoustic number, the track builds through strong melodies and repeated refrains in classic, Melodic Neo Prog style. Birrell's lead guitar never sounded better, but the whole band are in their element here. As the piece reaches its crescendo in a melting pot of soaring guitars, sways of synths and repeating refrains, we are lifted ever higher by the majesty of the music.


With "Against Reason", Credo has graduated from a very promising group to one of the best Neo Prog bands of the new millennium.
Credo's sound is explicitly Neo Prog; the music revolves around big choruses, melodic and upbeat song structures, and the synths get more than a couple of moments to lead the band onward.
Additionally, if you're tired of airy-fairy fantasy prog lyrics, and feel like you need some more down to earth emotion, then you really should give this album a shot.
Hopefully "Against Reason" will find the global success it warrants. After all, it is not every day that you stumble upon a CD that has not a single weak track, which sounds fresh, powerful and convincing from beginning to end.
Highly Recommended


01 - Staring At The Sun
02 - Cardinal Sin
03 - Intimate Strangers
04 - Against Reason
05 - Insane
06 - Reason To Live
07 - Conspiracy (MCF)
08 - Ghosts Of Yesterday


Mark Colton : vocals & percussion
Tim Birrell : guitars
Mike Varty : keyboards, backing vocals
Jim Murdoch : bass, backing vocals
Martin Meads : drums






BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Against-Reason-Credo/dp/B004WBZHJC