PURE

Pendragon always was a rather typical neo-prog band, with an epic fantasy sound, distinguished perhaps by gratuitous amounts of solo guitar in the bluesy Pink Floyd/Camel singing guitar style, courtesy of band mastermind Nick Barrett. Well, it was bound to happen eventually. Pendragon turns to heavy and singing about disgruntled teenagers.

Indigo, Eraserhead, and the Freak Show are examples of Pendragon's new heavy riffs/melodic guitars alternating style, usually beginning up-tempo and finishing with a melodic tension release. It's only me is a lo-oong ballad. Comatose, in three parts, is supposed to be something of a master stroke. It moves rather briskly between wildly alternating styles, all quite catchy and interesting, I might add, before settling down for the last 6 minutes for a drawn-out spacey section, which, while logical by the song's development, seems overlong and kind of mars the overall impression.

Overall, it's a testament to Pendragon's talents that for their 30-year old existence they still show no weak side. Rare band can boast of the same.