Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Morphelia - Waken The Nightmare CD (album) cover

WAKEN THE NIGHTMARE

Morphelia

 

Neo-Prog

3.96 | 72 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer
4 stars MORPHELIA are a Neo-Prog band out of Germany who have released two albums thus far. This is their second recording from 2009, a double concept album with a cool looking album cover as well. The music has a strong IQ / PENDRAGON flavour including the vocalist who is really good and has that Nicholls/Barrett tone down pat. There's some fairly heavy stuff on 3 or 4 tracks. This particular album certainly has received it's fair share of praise in the Neo-Prog camp.

"Walk Through The Park" opens with nature sounds and someone walking around as the piano kicks in. Vocals follow then the guitar. There is something emotional everytime the piano and vocals come in. "The En-Trance" is a short piece with atmosphere and spoken words before we get some guitar-led bombast to end it. "Hunt In The Hall" is a fairly powerful track with vocals. The guitar is quite metallic at times. I like the floating organ and the soaring guitar solo. "In The Captain's Room" opens with the sound of a door opening before laid back guitar and vocals take over, but the synths and keyboards also help out. The synths remind me of the "Wish You Were Here" album.

"Never Ending Steps" is surprisingly heavy as the vocals join in. The chorus is better but the instrumental section late is great. "Blue Chamber" is acoustic sounding with reserved vocals to start, then gulp...this section of pure emotion arrives. This will come and go and is my favourite part of the album. I should mention that mellotron is part of this moving passage as well. Contrasts continue. "365 Windows" is belivev it or not very METALLICA sounding instrumentally. "Mirror Labyrinth" is also heavy when it comes to the rhythm section and the guitar. "From The Room Of Silens" ends disc one with an intricate and mellow piece with fragile vocals. We even get an Eastern vibe before 4 minutes but it doesn't last long.

Disc two begins with "Imaginos(A Taste Of Evil)" with the organ swirling as the keys join in. It turns heavier as the vocals join in. A calm follows which sounds really cool then the guitar solos over top and this continues for some time. The heavier more urgent sounding rhythm section kicks back in with vocals after 5 minutes. "On The Roof(A Taste Of Freedom)" has these spacey background synths and prominant bass to start as the vocals join in. It builds as the drums join in. Some nice guitar in this feel good tune.

"In The Hall Of Stormy Oceans" is spacey with soaring guitar until a minute in when it settles with reserved vocals. It does pick up some with keyboards 2 1/2 minutes in. Pulsating organ follows then it becomes powerful and the vocals return with passion. A catchy guitar and vocal line after 13 minutes. "The End Is The Beginning Of The End(From The Inside Coming Out)" is the longest track by far at over 27 minutes. It's spacey early on as melancholic keyboards join in. An Eastern feel before 6 minutes then the guitar slowly solos, this is so good with all that atmosphere. Some aggressive guitar later on rips it up. Vocals return with more great sounding guitar and some power at times. It then trips along with vocals and the guitar before 20 minutes which reminds me of Italy's GARDEN WALL. The guitar solos over and over and then it ends like it began with nature sounds.

If your a Neo-Prog fan then you need this in your collection.

Mellotron Storm | 4/5 |

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Share this MORPHELIA review

Social review comments () BETA







Review related links

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.