A FAMILIAR PATH

WARNING! ABSOLUTE MUSICAL MUST FOR 2009! This 2009 year end comes with a sensational album and we are delightd to discover again that intelligence and aggression music are making good house together !I am honoured to be the first person who has the privilege to review such a marvelous album!Well,it says that a first try is always a great challenge for any artist,the second tone is a confirmation or not,but the third time ,that's the big test of maturity and the supreme challenge of the value of any artist!!!AT WAR WITH SELF numero 3-A FAMILIAR PATH is,definitelly,the most mature,eleborated and valuable album for Glen Snelwar!The album has everything to catch the attention of any good music lover-prog metal especially KING CRIMSON or PORCUPINE TREE style!The smart,clever aggressivity of this album makes more interesting it's audition,and we are delighted with all the ingredients of a complex and complete album.Massive riffs,surprising breaks and changing of rhythms,superbe alternance between the muscled and calm parts in a song and a deffinitive maturity of composition!The first song of the album ,the wonderful composition called REFLECTIONS,is familiar to the GORDIAN KNOT fans-period first album where Mr Snelwar was seriously involved!A strong and,deffinitive catchy version of that song,a little modified here and there,but with the same quality !The title song is the most ambitious and complex song that AWS has until now!A small masterpiece,a great moment of inspiration for Glenn and Manfred,,the ultimate prove for the immense talent of this musicians! The production is strong and each instrument shines here,the alternance of composition is perfectly well balanced.Being 99 % instrumental, A FAMILIAR PATH offers other surprises too-the discovery of a very complete,mature and intelligent drummer and percussionist-MANFRED DIKKERS,partner in murder of Glen Snelwar,one of the most innovative and original guitar players of our times!!!CONGRATULATIONS to the heavenly gifted musicians involved in this great project!Being an AT WAR WITH SELF fan since their strong debut,I am more thand honoured to legitimate offer to this album 5 STARS without any hesitation To conclude,5 STARS for a beautiful release which proves that this 2009 year offered some great prog albums !