TRIPLE ASPECT

''Second Sight'' was the most succesful among the 90's albums of Legend regarding its sales and in 1994 the band's label Pagan Media organized a tour for the band along with label mates Inkubus Sukkubus.The following year Legend focused on writing material for a third album.They were as tight and confident as ever and the ideas came naturally, even if bassist Paul Thomson had to play both the bass and the guitars after the departure of bassist Martin Rouski.''Triple aspect'' eventually sees the light in 1996.

This confidence of the band resulted to ambitious and bombastic compositions, among them the 5-part title track was clocking at almost half an hour (!), showing that Steve Paine had become incredibly comfortable with the composing of long tracks.Soundwise this was definitely the most mature work of the first period of Legend, offering rich, powerful and intricate compositions in a style, which reaches as closer as it gets a genuine Epic Progressive Rock, borrowing elements from Neo Prog, Folk Rock and Heavy Rock.The shorter tracks contain plenty of fiery rhythms to go along with a very OLDFIELD-ian atmosphere, combining the sharp edges of early-80's British Prog Rock with the folkier yet cinematic touches of MIKE OLDFIELD's music and the result is a mix of pounding electric guitars, symphonic keyboards and Medieval-styled female singing.The 12-min. long ''Lyonesse'' points to a folkier direction, but Legend were never predictable.The music is close to the style of ARRAKEEN, delivering a bombastic Progressive Rock, swirling between dreamy vocal sections, Neo-styled nervous synth soloing, mascular electric guitar leads and a marching rhythm section.Some folky melodies are still apparent, but the dynamics in here are on a very high level.Fast-paced and very tight music.The extended title-track is the very best reason to call Legend an Epic Prog Rock band.The love of Paine for Classic Prog Rock comes particularly in evidence in this piece, which contains some of Legend's most complex time signatures and powerful breaks without the band losing for a second its own identity.A pompous combination of raw Neo Prog, Classic-styled Symphonic Rock and Heavy/Power Rock with constant use of keyboards, fantastic female vocals and Thomson's mature guitar work, both on his melodic solos or his flaming riffing.

If you ever get one album from Legend's early years, this is propably the one.Very different from any other group, this is passionate and highly energetic Progressive Rock played with originality despite the obvious references to monster bands of the past.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.