PERILOUS

I really can't believe this album doesn't even get a score of >=4 right now. There are so many wonderful symphonic prog moments in the songs! Some songs may require a few listens to really appreciate them I guess. Don't judge the album after just one walkthrough!

Let's first note that the song titles, read one after another, make a beautiful poem!

1. The Sunset Gate

This track opens with an exposition of the main theme of this concept album, which will be repeated in later tracks, here played by a string trio. Once the piano takes over, you realize it's Hammertime! Although this sounds like an instrumental in the first half of the song, after more than three minutes the voice of Jon Davison makes an appearance, with subtle background vocals. A smooth transition occurs to the next song:

2.Beyond They Dwell

Slightly more uptempo than the previous track, and it may sound a bit more complex on first hearing. Very nice guitar and keyboard solos. Another smooth transition to the next song:

3.The Restless Ones

This song is mainly a vocal solo with piano accompaniment. At the end a surprising turn occurs into a suddenly very soft intro of the next song:

4. They Cast their Spell

I see this song as a kind of introduction to 'In That Lonely Place' (later on the album). A very creative chord progression, arpeggio played, on which the melody keeps spinning and changing in unforeseeable directions.

5. We Slept, we Dreamed

This song starts with the main theme of No. 1, now played on the piano, later joined by recorders and oboe. After a longer passage with vocals and especially keyboards, the exceptional beauty of this song really reveals itself at the end, where a vocal chorus kicks in like a classical choir. In the peaceful silence of a continuous low base note, the vocal chords flow like a renaissance Latin motet. Awesome!

6. The Years Were Sped

This is a very nice intermezzo with classical guitar sound.

7.Our Foe Revealed

An uptempo song with a very catchy riff about halfway through, at the end of the vocals.

8. Towards Home We Fled

This song has taken the most time to mature for me, especially because of the complex chord progressions and rhythms. In my experience you can appreciate it once you get used to it. But not easy to digest. A bit like tasting good but old wine.

9. While the Sun Dipped Low

A beautiful instrumental interlude, soundscape-like. Just close your eyes and watch the sun sink low.

10. The Wolf Gave Chase

Again an instrumental track, but now very up-tempo and a bit nervous. Excellent keyboard work in a very proggy style. Also a very impressive guitar solo. This song ends on a repeated augmented triad giving way to the album's most mellow interlude:

11. We Fell At Last

Acoustic solo guitar part, almost harp-like, a kind of intro for the next song:

12. In That Lonely Place

In my opinion, this symphonic ballad is the very best Glass Hammer song *ever*. On a very creative 5-chord progression, a melody is woven that with each subsequent measure goes somewhere else than you would expect. The couplets are sung by three different singers who each give their own flavor to that beautiful almost-from-out-of-space melody. The chorus is also very impressive and builds to a climax at the end of the 3rd chorus, but then continues and closes halfway through the 4th chorus. However, it's still not over yet? yes indeed, the main theme of the album returns at the end of this excellent track.

13. Where Sorrows Died and Came No More

After a quick piano and keyboard intro, a majestic song starts in slow motion that seems to close the album. However, after a few minutes an instrumental part follows where the tempo picks up again, in preparation for a fantastic symphonic and vocal end to this truly great album.