ON TO EVERMORE

This story-telling album scores very differently, from a prog fan to another, because it is indeed a little bit special. The sound that emanes from this one is very keyboard-oriented, with good guitars most of the way, but the 'color' of the sound is kind of surrounding and light. You could hardly compare "On to Evermore" to the other GH albums and see it within a straight line. The textures are different. So, it is original, at least from that point of view.

There are some good, even magnificient tracks, and some very average ones. If you focus more on the last ones, you could end giving a score of 2/5, and of course the other way is also possible. So, the best ones ? (I am not used to describe every track but I can go for exceptions, i.e. those that deserve it). First, the epic, Arianna. Very melodic, with a non-standard rythm in the first part, after a bombastic keyboard intro. Then, the smooth and atmospheric keyboards take over, followed by an explosive intensity comprising a super rythmic part. At the end, you hear back the debut part, which sounds a little different and slower, ending in a typical fashion, with a climax. I consider this one to be among the very best of what GH has produced, and it is a reference for this band.

The other very good ones are "On to Evermore", "Only Red", "Twilight On Longview" (super instrumental, new-age-type, relaxing, well-done) and... "Junkyard Angel", which is one of my GH favorites : another very different track, with very odd tempos but easy to listen, an increase of power, a smoother part, and an impro-ending constructed around a unique 'chord'. A very very good small epic.

Because of the good tracks, I do not feel able to inscribe a 3/5 (and also I like those guys' music too much)... The 'not-so-numerous' good ones are too good. Rounded to 4, then. Yes, a good addition (see definition).