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Glass Hammer - Live At Belmont CD (album) cover

LIVE AT BELMONT

Glass Hammer

 

Symphonic Prog

4.07 | 30 ratings

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tszirmay
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Glass Hammer's The Inconsolable Secret is one of my favorite US prog discs and I have chosen not to review it yet (but soon), relying instead on this DVD that features that new revamped crew in a live setting and a quatuor of long selections from The Inconsolable album. By this time the Tennesseans really got their personnel together in a purely energetic upgrade, with stalwart drummer Matt Mendians pounding fiercely, Swiss import guitarist whiz Danny Wallimann and Salem Hill's Carl Groves, a vocalist who actually can sing, how delightful to have you all here! The sizzling "Long Long Ago" sets the tone immediately, laying down the foundation for some lovely keyboard excursions by the chubby Mr. Schendel both on ornate piano, rabid organ and delirious synths while Walliman quiets any doubt that he can lick a mean guitar. He is Swiss, so visual exuberance is kept quite discreet but can he ever shred! Throw in some real live strings and you get a show opener that is riveting in stature and space, Babb keeping his bass propelled like some musical electrician. Seeing the three female backing vocalists smile as they sing adds only to the enjoyment. "One King" from Lex Rex is more in your face, go for the jugular piece that intros agreeably for a brief drum fling and the throbbing bass run of "Run Lisette", a masterful feat from all appointed, especially the brimming vocals , lead male and backing female work that is sheer radiance. Schendel exchanges synth bursts with the manic guitar, back and forth and the whole experience is astounding. The remainder of the concert program continues in a sober manifestation, no theatrics a la ELP, or silly between song humor like Tull or visual effects from classic Genesis. Just musicians grooving to make some atmospherically dense prog, certainly not far from the Relayer boys, evident when Eric Parker throws in some screeching steel guitar just like Steve Howe. Okay, Babb has a Squire fetish, Mendians thrashes like a dirty White boy and Schendel can Wake(a)man with apparent ease but these are certainly great musicians to be influenced by. Welcome change of pace is provide by extended piano etudes (seeing Schendel sweat profusely is funny, no wonder they are asking for towels), and gracious vocals from the pretty Susie Bogdanowicz such as the combination on the gut-wrenching ballad "Through the Glass Darkly" a highlight segment that has both musicality, poignancy and atmosphere while Carl Groves' voice does well to enhance the experience. Another track from the "Secret" But it's the other Inconsolable track that reaps all the glowing headlines. "Knight of the North" is an epic and majestic recreation of the studio masterpiece, a rare example of rock band and classical orchestra getting it right in a live setting, with colossal multi-voiced choir work, slick guitar excursions that almost veer near the outer perimeters of fusion and a volley of sterling keyboard interventions by the fat man. While this is no "Gates of Delerium", it still nevertheless compares nicely with the Flower Kings epics of which there are so many. Groves really starts getting into the music, his enthusiasm eye candy and everyone lets it rip in a potpourri of rapid fire riffs and solos that is hard not to admire. Wallimann in particular unleashes a couple of short blasts that verge on the impossible and then you even got some honky-tonk piano from the Schendel guy, overtly recalling the Tarkus crew from the UK. When the massive 150 member choir arrives on stage, the imposing sonic and visual effect is truly staggering, so the final three pieces have this enormous presence that is wonderful to witness. (All those teenage vocalists standing and waiting for their parts must be wondering WTF is this prog music?) . One thing no Mellotron or string synth can emulate is 150 voices! Things get very intense on the symphonic jewel "Having Caught a Glimpse" (another and the last TIS track), celestial singer Flo Paris trading howls with the husky Groves on a bed of upward gliding choruses with the Belmont singers adding the oomph! The strings add even more depth to the feel and the finale is overwhelming in its sincere and massive beauty. Simply magical music here. "Heroes & Dragons" closes off the show in typical Glass Hammer fashion, everything tossed into the pot.

While not a penta star candidate or the best concert video ever, it's still an agreeable ride into the prog sunset and a fine show. Which is want you wanted in the first place, no? Think about it , they are from Nashville /Chattanooga . Incredible world .

4 transparent mallets

tszirmay | 4/5 |

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