CULTURE OF ASCENT

Well you could erase an half star - after multiple listenings at least - but their imprinting is always particular and you can forgive them a few defects inside.. but - proceeding by order - first of all the vocalists Carl Groves and Susie Bogdanowicz perform the songs in a remarkable manner, even though it's difficult to compare their job to the tasteful vocalizations by a famous guest star like Mr Jon Anderson! In fact such a clever former Yes-vocalist - whose impact is excellent as usual- doesn't add anything new to this project ("South side of the sky" is a cover song); nevertheless his performance is settling here an important support to G.H.!! After all, if you regard of Steve Babb and Fred Schendel as true "master minds" - once again - of the present new work dated 2007, you can appreciate their epic numbers, this time being harder than usual...but certainly you have to forget the tepid vocal passages as well, even though in a few circumstances only, performed by Carl and Susie when their melodic touch is not inspiring...I mean, that sense of powerful harmonic solutions, a bit tough and closer to the sound of Dream Theatre, could represent a turn of their music career in the direction of such a prog metal, whose melodic and easier approach is often forbidden (the fans of classic prog know such a typical defect very well...), but the band is able to deserve a lot of surprising breaks through in the future, especially by regarding of fine works like "Lex Rex" and talking about their creative process as well!!