THE SUFFERING JOY

The Suffering Joy is the third studio album from Norwegian symphonic metal progressive band Magic Pie. A life's work is the epic album opener marking roughly 25mins of pure prog bliss. The suite is divided in four songs: 1.1 Questions Unanswered it's a simple open omg melody that allows the vocal introduction to the lyrical content of the concept album, life! What is it?; 1.2 Overture delivers the first instrumental passage of the experience, showcasing the flawless way this band has to blend symphonic rock and progressive metal, with Neo passages and catchy pop-like melodies, guitar attack (electric and acoustic), heavy and filling synths plus an outstanding rhythmic section; 1.3 A Brand New Day brings the first vocal harmonies to the game smartly displaying what the next 20 or so minutes will really be about, incredible melodic musical crafting accompanied by perfectly suited instrumentation? this time including some flute sounding synths and leading way to the next chapter, the title track; 1.4 The Suffering Joy is the epic within the epic. Catchy guitar riffing and full display of power bu the band, with all the ingredients you would expect from modern symphonic prog! Teasing on and off with progressive metal guitar melodies and vocalizing, and back to the symphonic? its a journey so nice to take and listen to, everything is plated so carefully that even the female backing vocals do their part and generate expectations on further listens? crazy right? Not yet? wait until guitar-synth-melodic battle starts? those melodic solos are the ones that really got me into this band, everything has being later appreciated with time and dedication, and the result is perfect. "Wherever you are, no matter near or far, whatever you say your sins won't fade away, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, do you know where you are?. And the masterful symphonic-metal game continues for another blessed 10mins or so, symphonic climax, and then melodies start getting even better, stronger and more beautiful as time progresses, difficult to ignore this type of musicianship and music composing, is really mind-blowing, at least to me. Let's get out of the rabbit hole and go back to the album! Headlines is like the much needed balance the album needed after the previous display, teasing with Neo prog musical structure with fantastic synths, various layers of melodic madness that compete with the guitars for that leading role. A mix of Pink Floyd, Beatles and Kansas vocal harmonies navigate on top of the music like in a Broadway play where somehow the production achieves the hard task of not letting any ingredient overpower the rest; and then the guitar soloing again before a comeback to the acoustic mellower Neo prog tune. Simple (compare to more complex sections of the album) but memorable, with shredding guitars and sing-a-long vocals, a familiar place where to stay for a bit before immersing into an even more soft and calm episode. Endless Ocean stays on the acoustic and harmonizes atmosphere that the previous track teased about, roughly 3mins of melodic magic, a little percussion and more vocal harmonies, beautiful.

Slightly Mad is just about that, the band becomes slightly and madly symphonic again, but of course with the metal punch and this time with an upper tempo and crazy and apparently disorganized synths, just an illusion as everything makes sense to delight the listener, again and again. I really like the different acoustic guitar arrangements all throughout the album, but here they are a highlight, because they do soften the feel but without interfering in the overall velocity of the track. The galactic synths are the ones providing most of the madness, and the drums the main instrument keeping the engaged listener alert to immediate changes to come. Funky jazz suddenly intervenes letting the guitars (electric this time) do their part and show the unquestionable virtuosity of the player. Female backing vocals again, just a little but enough to sugar coat all that's happening, wonderful.

Tired. Close your eyes and let this power prog ballad absorb your senses and immerse you in a melodic guitar-synth labyrinth, almost 16mins of non stop guitar licking, vocal harmonies and real human situations, beautifully portrayed and flawlessly played. Once more the metal riffing component that alongside the frenetic drumming injects that power metal feeling that is so intricate to the band's sound since the beginning, they blend those two genres (symphonic prog and progressive metal) so well sounding like a Genesis that meets Dream Theater but with a pinch of Kansas, crazy good! "I'm tired of all the hatred, the heartache and the pain, I'm tired of all the sickness that drives our world insane"? so actual and true!

In memoriam closes this fantastic album with a darker and creepier melodies than those on the preceding songs, instantly capturing the listener with those guitars, so well crafted and executed. It sometimes reminds me of IQ, maybe a little bit slower and with a higher pitch but definitely almost crossing towards the Neo prog scene?Marshall's keys accompany the leading guitars so majestically that one can only but forget how melancholic and dar the melodies are, all the vocals, leading and backing come together to elegantly bring closure to the experience, while the rhythmic section imprints its farewell leaving nothing but exit-like sounds from the synths & guitars. The suffering Joy!