ZANTEA CHRONICLES: THE NIGHTMARE AWAKENS

Forbidden Myth is a current Greek progrock project featuring George Katsanos (acoustic piano, Minimoog, theremin and tape effects), Antonis Adelfidis (acoustic and electric pianos, Hammond organ, combo organs, Mellotron, Hohner clavinet, digital - and analog synthesizers and Rheem Kee bass) and The Swede (drums), along many guest musicians on keyboards and vocals. So no guitars! In 2021 the band released their debut album entitled The Zantea Chronicles : The Dream Dominator, the first part of a trilogy, here's part 2 entitled The Zantea Chronicles : The Nightmare Awakens, released in 2024. And currently the band is working on part 3.

Well, to me this second part of the trilogy strongly sounds in the vein of the first effort. This means melodic and accessible compositions (12, between 4 and 8 minutes), tastefully arranged and frequently alternating between dreamy (wonderful classical piano play), mid-tempo and bombastic. Again the focus is on the exciting vintage keyboards, often featuring powerful Hammond runs, majestic Mellotron choir eruptions and spectacular Minimoog synthesizer soli (like in The Petrified Forest and The Riddle of Hill Myna, with use of the sensational pitchbend button). The music is topped with strong work by the rhythm-section, dynamic and powerful.

In order to emphasize the concept of this trilogy Forbidden Myth have colaborated with a wide range of male and female singers for the 9 characters (like fellow Dutchman Arjen Lucassen with his Ayreon project), in the English language. Some are good, most of these are decent, but some sound mediocre, with too obviously an accent, this results in a lack of power and expression.

However, after Methexis, Verbal Delirium, Naxatras and Residuos Mentales, lots to enjoy with this another interesting new Greek prog band Forbidden Myth. Especially the vintage keyboard sound is overwhelming, for me this is a very inspired tribute to Rick Wakeman his Minimoog synthesizer, Jon Lord his Hammond B-3 organ and Tony Banks his Mellotron M400 choir section, wow!

My rating: 3,5 star.

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