THE WHIRLWIND

I was hyped when I heard that these four individuals under the moniker Transatlantic were planing to release a new album but when I finally heard it for the first time I was somewhat uncertain of my feelings towards The Whirlwind.

The intro part was far from the majestic intros that were featured on the previous two studio albums and to be honest I often skip it just to get to the good stuff. Fortunately Neal Morse delivers a wonderful ballad performance on The Wind Blew Them All Away which does take away most of the sour flavor of the Overture-section. Still this 70+ minutes of music was surprisingly difficult to digest at first.

Eventually after 15+ spins I found it to be quite enjoyable and although the album still seems somewhat inferior to their previous release it does feature that distinct Transatlantic feel to it. The band doesn't progress their sound on this album but if you can accept it then it's quite an enjoyable ride indeed! The second CD lacks the intensity and fun that made the Limited Edition of Bridge Across Forever a must have for me. Excellent but far from essential.

***** star songs: The Wind Blew Them All Away (6:10) Rose Colored Glasses (7:54) Pieces Of Heaven (2:17)

**** star songs: On The Prowl (6:03) A Man Can Feel (6:35) Out Of The Night (4:22) Set Us Free (5:03) Lay Down Your Life (5:11) Dancing With Eternal Glory/Whirlwind (Reprise) (12:04)

*** star songs: Overture/Whirlwind (9:54) Evermore (4:10) Is It Really Happening? (8:11)

Total rating: 3,92