FACE OF OUR FATHERS

Pictorial Wand

Symphonic Prog

3.62 | 64 ratings

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lazland
Prog Reviewer

I purchased this on the strength of other reviews, and was expecting great things. Unfortunately, my listening tastes do not seem to accord with others who have reviewed or rated this album.

It's not awful, absolutely far from it, but neither, to me, is it anywhere near resembling essential.

The playing is excellent throughout, that much is sure. For example, there is a quite sublime guitar solo midway during Prince Of War, only for it to be spoiled by the vocals intruding at the end of it. In addition, I really like the female vocals. If only I could say the same for the male contributors, who spend far too much time growling, and out of tune at that.

I cannot help get the feeling that this is an album which has been thrown together in some way, with a very diverse set of influences, ranging from classic symphonic to hard prog, and this is the faultline running throughout this. It doesn't feel like a cohesive whole, rather more like a smorgasbord. Struggle of Autumn Leaves is a very good example. There are some lovely melodic moments in this, but the track all to often descends into a mix of what I can only describe as who knows what. Even in the crazier experimental days of bands such as Crimson and VDGG, there was a cohesive feel and theme to the music, and this just seems to be lacking here.

I would also say that I found the production to be absolutely awful, and this certainly detracted from the enjoyment here.

It is a shame I'm writing this review. I love Scandinavian prog, but this is the worst I have had so far.

An album that really does not know where it is going, and very disjointed, and I therefore award it two stars, in that it really is for collectors only.

lazland | 2/5 | 2010-10-24

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