BARB-A-BAAL-A-LOO

"Visible Wind" took five years to release this album. I guess that it will be difficult for them to release a better one than "Narcissus Goes to the Moon". But, frankly : if only they would even equal this very good work, it would be perfect.

Their last album was a return to a more symphonic sound. So, will they keep it on this album ?

If you forget about the twenty-five seconds opener ("Vladivostok"), "The Healer" opens the album brilliantly. Fantastic backing vocals, nice mellotron and very powerful band. One of my top five of the band. Although the symphonic atmosphere seems to leave the pace to a more powerful (metal?) sound.

This is totally the case with the next track. "Maniaquerie" is a full prog-metal one. It sounds as "Dream Theater". Fully energetic and rather pleasant. Which is not the case at all during the title track. It is a very strangesong. Synthetized vocals, it appears to me as a soundtrack of a cheap scary movie. A poor song.

"Hollow Emptiness" has a very good keyboard riff, it is also a great track. Melancholic, almost romantic vocals. It's rather commercial as well. One of the best song of this album. These keyboards are incredible. The finale, just sublime. It's a pity though that it only lasts for about three minutes. Same feeling for the very short (1'32") "Mal Brook".

"Visible Wind" will also sound poppier with his effort (although this could also be noticed in their second album). Pop metal ? Listen to "Lost Ideal" and judge.

I mentioned already that when the band was singing / recitating in French, the link with "Ange" was so obvious. When I listen to the intro of "Dans Le Vide", the same type of narrative voice as the old "Emile Jacotey" is there. Beautiful and delicate flute in the midst of a definite harder tone. This album follows the footsteps of "Emergence"; their third album. Still, there are so many beautiful melodies that this one is a lot better.

Songs are in the short format this time. Nothing like their epic "The Awakening" (over twenty minutes). This album also features a lot more songs sung in French than on their previous albums. Maybe to please more their French Canadian audience ? This album is also more accessible (some would say more commercial, but I see no wrong here) and more neo-prog oriented again ("Neandertal" for instance). The last three to four numbers are a bit weak as well. Pop, prog, metal. A cocktail that doesn't always work well.

This album is not their best one (I suggest you to listen to "Narcissus Goes to the Moon" first ) but it is unquestionably a solid work. Three stars.