BEACON OF LIGHT

Again, and I am not tired of saying this, thanks to a site like this and of course it?s members we can listen to more and more music every day, I am saying this because once again I am reviewing an album thanks to one of PA member?s word.

So here I am once more, trying to write a decent review for a band who was unknown to me until a month ago, this Norwegian group called Adventure is here in the realm of prog with very good music, though I don?t know their debut album, I can say they are a talented band. This is their second album which was released this 2009, whose title Is ?Beacon of Light , it features 13 songs, well actually those might be reduced to 7 since there are various themes which are divided in different parts, the album?s length runs around 72 minutes.

And it kicks off with ?Something to Believe? (the first of the divided themes, I mean, there are first, second, and third part?. The first part is the shortest; it is like the album?s intro so we can hear just like a soft piano moment, but immediately after that minute, Something to Believe Part II begins with a very bombastic sound guided by the keyboards making a heavy but symphonic sound, this second part on the other hand is the longest one, reaching almost 13 minutes. The first two minutes are the same, but then vocals enter with a peculiar style reminding me in some moments like if it was featured in an epic film or something like that, some minutes later the music returns as it began, those great keyboards, strong drums and guitars, and great bass lines. Overall, the song has it?s comes and go?s producing in moments a great sensation on me, as I said in the first paragraphs, they are talented musicians, so the music is very good, you will notice when the song turns into a darker one just in order to return again to the heavy symphonic style, I believe I must say that personally, I would prefer an almost instrumental song here, since the vocals are not very impressive or unique.

The third part, after all the bombastic moments, is a very soft and calm song where an acoustic guitar makes you feel more comfortable, you know, after the storm comes the calm. This is a nice short melody but I have to say that when the chorus ?we all need something to believe in? appears, it really reminds me to TFK, after a couple of minutes there is a nice guitar solo.

The next track is called ?The Swan? and it sounds like if it continued the previous song, I mean it could?ve been Something to Believe Part IV, this is a longer track that in my humble opinion could be better if they have reduced it to a 5 minute song, though there are a good instrumentation and nice solos, the first part is kind of boring to me, maybe unnecessary.

Then we have ?A Crack in the Ice? (another song divided in parts, this has only parts I and II). The first one starts with a heavier style that reminds me a bit to some of their fellow Norwegians metal bands, I am not saying that Adventure is playing metal, not at all. That heavy style predominates in the first two minutes before it calms down a little bit, while listening to a nice keyboard background and the guitar playing here and there, at the last minute of this part the vocals enter and then the second part starts, you will notice it when that slow down moment ends and a heavier style appears again. It is obvious that this is the same song, but I believe there was no need of a division, it could have been a 10 minute A Crack in the Ice and that?s it.

Next there is another short song called ?Emilie?s Piece? which is a nice acoustic instrumental song, like an album?s intermission, there is a beautiful flute sound on it.

Following this short song we have ?Fragile Frame? that continues the acoustic guitar style of the previous one, but this time since the first seconds the vocals enters with a more melodic sound, I do not really know if it is the same singer of the first tracks, It sounds a bit different. After that soft first moment, the track becomes a bit heavier just in order to return to the soft style this time accompanied by a flute. A very nice song.

?Joybringer? is another short and acoustic track, the guitar sound is very pure and beautifully accompanied by the flute again.

The last song of this album has to be the title track, and it is divided but this time in four parts. The first one which happens to be the introduction and has a beautiful atmosphere created by synth and flute and after one minute the show begins. Second part starts again with a heavier symphonic style, some spoken words and a great instrumental passage, then the vocals enter again, I love vocals in music, so I believe I should mention again that these vocals are not really my cup of tea. During the songs we will listen to some mood changes, but the style keeps being the same, I mean there is a heavy feeling almost always. The song is well structured and it?s changes have been well received by my ears, so I believe this song in particular is the best of the album, well ?Beacon of Light Part II? I mean. There are some female backing vocals which put something extra to the song, in some parts we can hear to a more emotional band, like if they are really feeling and transmitting what they feel at the moment. Also you cannot miss the guitar solos during the track, they are pretty good. In the last minutes of this part, the song becomes a piano/synth/spoken word track, just before a nice keyboard and soft drumming appear, but wait, they have to end like their style says, with a heavier style. And yes, all of a sudden part III of Beacon of Light begins again with the same predominant style, this time it sounds like a victory music, I hope you understand what I mean, this is an instrumental song. And finishing the album we have Part IV, which is another short piece this time led by a delicate piano sound, along with some electric guitar notes over there, a nice ending.

This is a very nice album by a promising band, there are some moments that I consider unnecessary and maybe plain, but overall their effort is worth listening, though I believe that they can improve in the future.

Final grade 3 stars.

Enjoy it!

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