THE OLD MAN AND THE SPIRIT

It's as cheesy as you'd expect from an AOR-meets-prog-metal opera with two lead vocalists, but in moments, this is strangely beautiful. AOR is a bit of a dirty word to some, and I can see why that is, but I love a good over-the-top slab of melodrama, as long as it's backed with a good tune. The cheesiest two tracks here - 'A World of Wonders' and 'Where the Earth and Sky Meet' are arguably its finest, with powerful lead melodies that could sound right as climactic act-enders in a West End musical. The metal here is occasionally solid and occasionally a bit forced, and I think the male singer struggles to balance a good performance with the obviously story-based lyrics (another link to musicals, but a less positive one), but on the whole I do really like the vast majority of this. Moments even remind me of Dream Theater, back when they knew how to have fun.

7.6 (7th listen)

Part of my listening diary from my facebook music blog - www.facebook.com/TheExoskeletalJunction

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