DESOLATION ROSE

When I looked at the album promo way before it was released I was a bit disappointed with the track list as there was no track with duration of more than 20 minutes which had been the band's tradition to write epic. With that thing in mind I did not expect much about this album as I was very satisfied with its previous album under "Banks of Eden" that I thought would be the best release from the Flower Kings. Yes, I was really amazed with their privious album especially with its wonderfully crafted epic "Numbers" that opened the album nicely. And I thought after that album the band would diminish in terms of musical quality because I could not think any other album that can be as great as "Banks of Eden" that I truly admired by heart and emotioanlly has hooked me (it became my regular playlist for more than three months).

I was wrong! The first time I spun this new release "Desolation Rose" I could not believe how the band can really crafted beatiful notes that connect from one segment to another beautifully with their transition pieces wherever changes of style are occuring. Oh my God! I was stunned with the great vocal work at the opening of Tower One that sets the overall tone of the album wonderfully. I do admire this band really! From the experience listening to the album from minute zero to the end of the album I really enjoy every bit of the music that flows nicely without any intention to replay any particular track. Nope! It's not because of there is no such great track but as the music rolls my mind was wondering with challenging question of "what happen with the next track? Will it sound as great as this one? How will it sound?". Those kind of questions are pondering into my head in fact when I am writing this review - by the time i am wrting this sentence, the music is playing track 6 "Silent Massess". Of course for the sake of this review I will definitely have to replay from track one to validate what I am writing. But, the funny thing is that currently i do not want to do it as the music flows wonderfully since track one and I do not want or intend to stop it. Ket just the music flow and it flows wonderfully!

I do not know what kind og magnet the album has generated so that I do not want to replay any single track. The definite answer is very sure: all tracks produced here are really great! I am not sayiong that the individual track under prog guidelines is the best prog track of all time but it's basically all essence of prog music is here with whatever you call it: complexity, challenging lyrics, change of tempo, change of style, structural integrity, harmony - everything is here I can assure you. Frankly, I have been trying to force myselfe to identify any key tracks from this album and I fail to do so. I would say this album must be enjoyed in its entirety even though there are abundant of memorable and catchy melodies coming out from the spread of tracks presented here in this album. Bear with me....this album is not that ambitious as Banks of Eden but it is at par excellence. I assure you!

I am not sure that I am able to review on track by track basis as every single track is great and if I do it will bore you with a novel long review. For sure the opening travk Tower One is really a great opener and if you want to decide whether or not you continue with the journey of listening to this entire album, your test of likeness starts here at Tower One track. If you don't like it, just forget it and get another new release of other bands like Dream Theater or Haken or any other release. I am sure if you dislike the opening track of this album there is very little probability that you gonaa like the album. Just stop here at first track and close the book with The Flower Kings!

But ...

If you like Tower One, I can guarrantee that you will enjou every bits and pieces of this album from start to end. And welcome back my friends with the prog music produced by geniuses of prog band from Sweden that was born from the nineties and I am sure you enjoy the journey listening to this wonderfully crafted album. Having listened to Tower One with its excellent composition and catchy melody, here comes "Sleeping Bones" that spans only (4:16) duration but it maintains great energy and nuance as created by opening track. In some way you might consider this as a transition that bridges to the next track. But please ...enjoy the organ sound as well as soft music riffs in some segments of the track and connect them into your mind ....oh ... it's beautiful man! Of course there is change of style in the middle of the track that makes the song is truly a prog music. I almost delare that Desolation Road (4:00) is my favorite track but I immediately decline my statement. Why? Because all tracks contained here are really my favorite with no exception as far as the album is spun in its entirety! The reason I almost declare this third track as my favorite is bucause some segment melodies of this track has ever come into my mind while I was cycling go to my office as they are really catchy. I really like the nice combination of vocal, guitar and keyboard that form this track. Of course I also love the basslines by my favorite player Jonas Reingold! The ending part of this track is awesome with Tomas Bodin's organ work. Oh mannnn ....it's really greaaaatttttt ....!!!

It flows almost seamlessly to the funny styke of music in "White Tuxedos" (6:30) with the kind of music that is quite simple, it reminds me to the new wave kind of music in some ways. But this is The Flower Kings man! It's really good having this style embedded into prog music like this album for a break. "The Resurrected Judas" (8:24) is another excellent composition and some people consider this one as key track coming out from the album. UIt then flows very nicely to "Silent Masses" (6:17) until the end of the album without any sense of boring siuation at all. In fact when it comes to track 8 "Dark Fascist Skies" (6:05) it confirms to me that the album overall is a masterpiece!

Overall ...this is a MASTERPIECE with FULL FIVE STAR with no exception at all. Keep on proggin' ...!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

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