DESOLATION ROSE

I was disappointed by The Flower Kings' "Banks Of Eden", the album preceding this one. While it was not bad, it felt like the band was coasting. But on this new release, it feels like the fire has been reignited under Roine Stolt and his most well known band.

While much of the album features Stolt's extremely well played symphonic stylings, the glimpses of darkness and humor that initially drew me to this group have returned. In particular, White Tuxedos and Dark Fascist Skies fall into this category. While I enjoy the pure symphonic pieces, Stolts frequent religious imagery in his lyrics, while not trite or proseletizing, often turns me away a bit.

My copy of this album is the special edition, which includes a bonus disk, presumably extra material from the recording sessions. Even on this disk there is not a weak song in the lot. Special mention must be made for Runaway Train, a high energy track that sounds like Stolt has been picking up some pointers from Transatlantic bandmate Neal Morse, and Interstellar Visitations, a Pink Floyd tinged piece that has some of the finest guitar work I've ever heard from Stolt.

It's nice to have The Flower Kings back.