COMATOSE

Lee Abraham plays bass on Galahad's 'Empires Never Last' album - a personal favorite - and I was quite interested in listening to his solo career. His 2019 release 'Comatose' is considered a major release, so what better place to start?

My first impression was that 'Comatose' is a 'Wish You Were Here'-lover's thrash metal album. Most songs have slow-pace symphonic-ballad vocals parts, some emotive guitar leads on symphonic carpets and metalesque instrumental sections. The classification of crossover prog is however well in place, because we're not exactly facing ground-braking ideas here. The key-word is harmony, professionalism and sounding recognizable. The vocals by Marc Atkinson are warm and professional - but again - by the book. Lee Abraham's guitars are well played, but I mainly like his harder riffs in which I can find some vague traces of originality. The production of the album is very well done.

The album, which on the tracklist is supposed to impress as a single long track, plays like a fairly normal succession of songs that one would expect on concept album. The album is about some-one who enters a coma, aks some philosophical questions, relives some of his memories (including being happy in the sun as a child) and wakes up (or not?). Sound familiar? The Visitor? The Human Equation? The Lamb Dies Down on Broadway? The difference with these albums is that - for instance - Arena's The Visitor uses the concept to explore a wide pallet of emotions and themes, whereas on 'Comatose' I can mainly find that one later day Pink Floyd emotive sympo- vibe.

I've been fairly critical of lack of originality here, but I would like say that is one my personal traits. Who is to say listeners of Pink Floyd, symphonic metal and crossover prog won't like this album just fine? To me the progressive genre is about finding spots that weren't yet discover on the map of music, or re-arranging them in a original fashion. Or perhaps performing them in some mind-blowing or personal way.

This album is however made by and for people who obviously love some symphonic rock traditions and are happy to invite yet another well-made work into their music collection. For me its good, but in no way essential. I must say its way more likely I will return to the 2019's Cosmograf release I recently reviewed (which I also gave this rating).