ARISE

GLASS HAMMER group founded in 1992; known for composing on the Lord of the Rings book and hosting Jon ANDERSON who brought me to them; a sound on YES, ELP and GENESIS initially for the sound of the keyboards and a symphonic rock assigned to the specific musical flow; their 22nd album is about the exploration of deep space by an android, so we are therefore going for space rock, doom metal and psych-rock from the 70s to today, a beautiful progressive range which is evolving.

"Launch of the Deadalus" rhythmic intro, spatial neo prog on a Dantesque final organ leading to "Wolf 359" starting title on a heady heavy riff; Hannah deploys her voice eyeing that of MOSTLY AUTUMN, merging with almost all prog groups with a female voice; the final orchestral side between symphony and grandiloquent melody, music seeking to "talk to the gods of Olympus" with a supercharged keyboard confirms the metallic desire. "Arion (18 Delphini b)" more psychedelic track with vocoder voice, dynamic for rock enthusiasm and forward bass reminiscent of RUSH. "Mare Sirenum" the marine interlude, instrumental becoming crystalline, hypnotic; a grandiose psyche rise which makes a magnificent progressive nod to the electronic music of TANGERINE DREAM, sublime. "Lost" follows, a long, captivating intro of almost two minutes before Hannah takes the reins on a piano and new wave scents; the emphasis on a SPARKS, a MI-SEX, half dancing, half contemplative and a timeless melody to finish electro dub. "Rift at WASP-12" its catchy heavy sound; between the film and the psyche, on a languorous and surly MOTORPSYCHO, a sign of the prog oxymoron; an overboosted stoner, on a MONSTER MAGNET. A GLASSHAMMER in fact squeaky and twirling but effective.

"Proxima Centauri B" drives the point home, heavy bass, scratchy wah-wah riff, heavy drums looking towards BLACK SABBATH; rhythmic before a soaring break which disconcerts thanks to the sovereign Hammond, the bass keeping its place; Hannah screams more and more and gives pep. "Arise" first of two long pieces; spacey and oriental air on TANGERINE DREAM from the start; a musical bluff with this organ from ancient times and a title which refers to the sound of yesteryear and an air mixing Chrissie HYNDE with Anneke from GATHERING; Steve shows here even more his love of sophisticated, dithyrambic, colorful music, with a final soaring chord where the Mellotron comes to light. "The Return of Deadalus" for the beef, the crazy improv that we no longer expected in 2023; a good old instrumental gig from a bygone era surfing between psychedelic rock, bluesy rock and hard 70s madness; an end-of-album gift with still the old greasy sound of MOTORPSYCHO, yes GLASSHAMMER transcends itself; flights of keyboards from the time when the organ gave prog its letters of nobility; Steve's bass, always heavy and powerful, and the guitar which twice releases a solo that will make you swoon: Hannah arrives at the end to remind us that her voice is also important; final which leaves you perplexed, stunned favoring astral travel quite simply; an astonishing and explosive mix, heavy worthy of DEEP PURPLE.

GLASSHAMMER hit hard, very hard; heavy prog as we like it with vintage sounds, a sound that gradually changes confirming their musical evolution; a concept album about space exploration that is bound to send you very far away for an hour; strong and soaring recording, perfect progressive osmosis of prog sounds and an obligatory album of the month in view of this musical deluge.(4.5)