BANKS OF EDEN

Banks of Eden by The Flower Kings, a 55 minute album with everything a prog lover should enjoy. I think anyone who likes Genesis, Yes, and The Beatles would really love this album. Its the right mix of all 3 bands. This album is the first to not include Ulf Wallander, and brings in a new drummer to replace Zoltan Csörsz, and the replacement being german drummer Felix Lehrmann. So, time for a track by track analysis.

Numbers, 25 minutes of prog goodness. Starts with some very Genesis type instrumental for the first two and a half minutes roughly. Once the lyrics start coming, it goes to a Beatles type zone with some Genesis influence. A part of the track that showcases both Roine and Hasse's best vocal work. The song transitions into a more plan old Beatles tone that resembles songs like Come Together. It has its moments with Blues influenced Genesis and Yes type instrumentals. A two minute section with Yes type harmonies, and Genesis instrumentals. A reprisal of the first vocal section, and finally a gorgeous, slower instrumental passage that closes this perfect epic. Numbers is one of my favourite epics of all time, just altogether a really damn good epic, its definitely an epic worth listening to. 25/25

For The Love Of Gold, Very Beatles-esc. I like the keyboard solo provided by Tomas Bodin around the two minute mark. Like the mellow tone of this song, its very calm and well done. So the score? 4/5

Pandemonium, very very cool. More Genesis like, a bit more instrumental based, but overall still a really good track with a more busy tone. 4/5

For Those About To Drown, wow wow amazing! A very soft Yes and Beatles track, love the harmonies, I love the instrumentation, and I just love how this song is placed on this album. 5/5

Rising The Imperial, a very unique song by the band. Its very original, very very soft, great vocals, amazing bass work, everything about this song is just... perfect. I love this track. 5/5

Total Grade: 43/45 Percentage: 95.5%

Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music.