Consortium Project: IV
As you might image from the name, this is an album which has a few core members and lots of guests. It's basically the brainchild of Ian Parry. The band features former members of Elergy and With Temptation. This is progressive power metal with hard rock hints that is neither unpleasant nor particularly thrilling. It's decent to listen to but there is really nothing that could be classed as memorable it has to be said. It would be interesting to see what they are like live.
Stone Lake: World Entry
The one thing that first strikes you about this CD is the vocals of Peter Grundstrom. To say he is an acquired taste, with his high screech, is an understatement. There are times he goes so high as to sound off key. These Swedish lads seem to be doing the business on their local scene. There is a no faulting the quality of the musicianship, especially from main-man Jan Akesson.
As with many of this sort of bands, on record they sometimes lack enough decent songs to fill an album. There are several filler tracks on here, really nothing that stands out in its catchiness. This is the band’s debut. Let’s hope they gel a bit more and come up with a better collection of tracks.
Porcupine Tree: Fear of a Blank Planet
It will shock no one at all to hear that Steve Wilson and Co have produced probably their best work to date. (It's hard to tell as they are all so good.) Wilson who is also in the excellent Blackfield and is a producer of note (ex: Opeth) just has that ability to make his prog both deep and accessible. The album is not a concept album, as so beloved by proggers, but deals with the digital age in all its glory.
PT are on par with Dream Theater, especially in the light of latest release, without being complete clones. There is something special going on with this band that you can’t quite put your finger on. Not that you want to, it you want brilliance, try “Anesthetize”. There is a heavy Pink Floyd vibe, but it's all their own. A heavy Opeth-like vibe can be found later on the CD.
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
Gotta get me a copy of the new VR.
Porcupine Tree sound interesting too, I've heard off them, but never heard them.
The new DT is awesome, their best release in years.
2 - Paul Roy
Alex Lifeson, not Neil Peart, of Rush, does the guitar solo on "Anesthetize" from Fear of a Blank Planet, which is easily one of the best albums of the year.
3 - Andy
I don't know about the US versions of the albums, but Bon Jovi's "Who Says you can't go home" is on their last album - "Have A Nice Day"