EPYSODE - Obsessions (2011)

EPYSODE is a conceptual project by Virus IV guitarist, Samuel Arkan.
With the contribution of really good musicians and big names from the Prog Metal scene, Arkan has created a well-crafted album full of complex melodies, intensity and power riffs.
"Obsession" is a Melodic Progressive Metal concept work, if you don't like this kind of albums, don't be scared, the result is good... at least in places.

The story is more than interesting, just like watching an adventure or a thriller movie with thick plot that will keep you on edge till the last minute.
How about a journey into a dark mind through the eyes of a young police profiler investigating a mysterious series of homicides, that while he does, he gets in touch with several supernatural phenomena that draw him deeper and deeper, to become part of the story?
Pretty dark, mad and cool eh? Well, I’m not going to reveal anything more, so let’s deal with the music.

After the frightening and scary intro "File 41807", the short and beautifully female vocals-piano "Silences Of Dawn" introduces us into the story.
The first proper track "First Blood" is a heavy beast with a potent sound. The song is melodic and full of energy with monster guitars.
The title track is one of the best in my opinion, epic and thunderous. Here the ensemble between the vocalists is great, as a proper band with a long history.
Musically, "Invisible Nations" is pretty catchy considering its metal spirit.
The ballad "Gemini Syndrome" is another good one. The exchange between the male and female vocals during the dialogues is quite successful; while the keys do an excellent work in the creation of the emotional, soft atmosphere.

"Fallen's Portrait" is what you call pure prog metal. It's a complex musical ride whith several tempo changes and great musicianship. It's a key part of the story as well.
"Season Of Redemption" is an epic track, heavy and dense. I don't like some desperate vocalizations here.
Things get better on almost catchy and eastern-progg "The Other Side", in gran part thanks to the great female vocal harmonies.
"One Chance" is another track that musically I don't like. It's gritty, dense and heavy, too much heavy (which is not a bad thing) but for some reason I found it inconsistent.
"March Of The Ghosts" has a an epic sound, with some really good big sympho/prog keyboards and guitar solos, sounding in places definitely power metal.
"Last Sunset" is the story final, almost melodic and warmly orchestrated after the previous sonic attack tracks.


If you're fascinated by Ayreon, and why not, Evergrey imaginary, "Obsession" is for you.
But no matters which is your favorite genre, this is an exciting and interesting album, thanks to the solid content, musically and, of course, lyrically.
The rhythm changes and the colorful keyboards add the progressive tag, while the guitars hold tight the metal facet and the vocals have nothing to envy from so many good and well known vocalists out there.
It's a progg album, yes, but quite heavy, very close in places to power metal, and it's exactly in those (few) passages where the songs does not work so well in my opinion.
Anyway, the compositions are above average, well arranged, performed and produced, mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids, Jorn Lande, TNT).
Interesting.


01 - File 41807
02 - Silences Of Dawn (Poetry)
03 - First Blood
04 - Obsessions
05 - Invisible Nations
06 - Gemini Syndrome
07 - Fallen's Portrait
08 - Season Of Redemption
09 - The Other Side
10 - Shadow Lord
11 - One Chance
12 - Divine Whispers
13 - March Of The Ghosts
14 - Last Sunset


Singers:
Kelly Sundown
Oddleif Stensland
Magali Luyten
Rick Altzi
Liselotte "Lilo" Hegt

Musicians:
Samuel Arkan - Guitars
Christophe Godin - Lead Guitars
Kristoffer Gildenlöw - Bass
Julien Spreutels - Keyboards
Léo Margarit - Drums




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www.epysode.com


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STAR ONE - Victims Of The Modern Age (2010)

This is the real one (retail), not the promo

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen has firmly established himself worldwide as driving force in progressive hard rock.
While best known for his rock opera project Ayreon, the multi-talented Dutchman also regularly embarks on musical side projects which explore different aspects of his musical personality.
As his previous project (Guilt Machine's 'On This Perfect Day' 2009) was a relatively relaxed and subtle affair, Lucassen's muses responded by urging him to record something loud, powerful and anything but subtle for this new release.
Thus it was a perfect opportunity to launch his musical spacecraft towards the galaxy of bombastic sci-fi rock by revisiting his STAR ONE project.

The result is the album "Victims Of The Modern Age", the follow-up to the Star One debut album, 'Space Metal (2002)'.
Compared to Space Metal, the overall sound of the new album is heavier, bombastic, more guitar-oriented, and slightly less "spacey".
The guitars are thicker and solos abound, but Broek's keyboard solos are equally abundant and engaging.
Arjen has also raised the bar significantly when it comes to the album's sound:
"I think it's my best sounding album to date; it's a huge difference compared to the first Star One. For the guitars I spent weeks experimenting with different amps and settings in every combination imaginable -- and it was worth it.
The drums sound fantastic, and the vocalists all outdid themselves, putting in even stronger performances than they did the first time around."
Again, as with the previous work, "Victims Of The Modern Age" is a concept album. Yet, this one is set on earth rather than space.
The songs are based on dystopian and post-apocalyptic sci-fi movies. Typical of Lucassen, he wouldn't divulge which films inspired, leaving it for our speculation.

The album starts off with a little instrumental leading into "Digital Rain", a clear example of this album temper: the melody, the rhythm, everything just sort of falls into place creating a really good palette of sound. There is a guitar and keyboard face melting solo battle to die for. And the 4 vocal arrangement at the end is amazing.
"Earth That Was" starts brutally heavy. Again the guitars / keys rip through solos but this time leading into an almost somber moment before exploding into a massive epic ending. The keyboard work of Joost van der Broek is awesome.

"Human See, Human Do" boasts some brand new sounds like nothing Arjen has done to date, bluesy, with a groove that is both jolting and seemingly simple when (if you're a musician who counts) you know it's not. Right off the bat you can tell it's going to be a fun song. You aren't let down.
"24 Hours" is some sort of epic ballad, but not your typical cheesy one.
"Cassandra Complex" opens with some extraterrestial synths and then go into a cool riff and a very nice chorus, the most commercial song of the album.
"It's Alive, She's Alive, We're Alive" features very good melodies and keyboard arrangements accompanying the vocals, it kind explains the whole story in a nutshell by recapping and if you're an advocate of concept albums, you'll find a lot of clarity here.
Finally, "It All Ends Here", a 3 part song action packed and conclusive to the story at hand. Dark and complex composition.

Fundamentally, "Victims Of The Modern Age" is pure Arjen Lucassen, and one of his finest works to date.
And while Arjen stepped up to the plate and delivered some of the best keyboard and guitar parts of his career the all-star roster of vocalists lived up to their reputations and gave 110% to the album. Each singer has their own moments to shine, specially Russell Allen (what a year!).
In addition guitarist Gary Wehrkamp and keyboard wiz Joost van den Broek (terrific job) provided thrilling solos which are sprinkled throughout the album, and drummer Ed Warby opened up a new dimension in his playing to compliment the new musical ideas that were thrown into the mix.

"Victims Of The Modern Age" is a powerful recording in general but I would go as far as to say it is a staple in what modern progressive genre is becoming.
It's also a good album for listeners who might not be all that into your typical prog music.
I was surprised how the album easily flows, and not being a big fan of this style, how much enjoyed it. Production quality is one of the best I've heard in the last 20 years.
This album delivers grand and bombastic melodic prog hard / metal that intrigues, overwhelms, but most importantly; entertains.


1 - Down The Rabbit Hole
2 - Digital Rain
3 - Earth That Was
4 - Victim Of The Modern Age
5 - Human See, Human Do
6 - 24 Hours
7 - Cassandra Complex
8 - It's Alive, She's Alive, We're Alive
9 - It All Ends Here
----a) I Think Therefore I Am
----b) Four Years
----c) It All Ends Here


Vocals:
Russell Allen (Symphony X, Allen - Lande)
Damian Wilson (Threshold, Headspace)
Floor Jansen (ReVamp, ex-After Forever)
Dan Swanö (Nightingale, Second Sky, ex-Edge Of Sanity)

Ed Warby (Lana Lane, Ayreon) : Drums
Peter Vink (Ayreon, Finch) : Bass
Joost van der Broek (After Forever) : Keyboards solos (2,3,5,8)
Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery) : Guitar Solos (2,3,5,7)
Arjen Anthony Lucassen : Guitars, Hammond, Mellotron, Analog Synths



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