SIX DEGREES OF INNER TURBULENCE

Where does one start, "Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery." It was Aristotle who said that. I would rather, "I never borrow from anybody, I steal." Stravinsky said that. What he meant was that he never took from other composers without making something new out of it, making it his own. Metropolis was an interesting experiment but while listening to it I find myself saying, oh, this sounds like Floyd, oh this sounds like Metallica, oh, this sounds like Queen, Yes, ELP. They had not quite made the style their own.

The praise I can give to the album is that it is very musical. The lines are more lyrical than I have come to expect from post-Metallica heavy metal. The band does offer some hard heavy metal ditties on CD 1, notablyThe Glass Prison.

With Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence I think that the band came into its own. The Great Debate, which samples news clips of stem cell research debates, its quite interesting and one of the most unique things I have heard in a while.

It is the second cd that makes the purchase worthwhile. I still find myself saying, now where have a heard that before but am now less likely to realize what the reference is. I know the opening comes out of Gentle Giant, the Power and the Glory, of About to Crash is reminiscent of Gabriel's In Your Eyes, and Solitary Shell of Solisbury Hill. War Inside my Head is Metallica; the chorus of The Test the Stamped them All, hmm . . I can't figure it out but I know where it comes from. In fairness I would say that the references do not detract from the over all enjoyment of the album as they do on Metropolis. They have made the music their own.

This is an album that is a good introduction to the band for old school prog heads like me. It is very symphonic while holding to the heavy metal style for which the band is known. There is more keyboard, piano synthesizer solos, the works, an interesting story line and a very dramatic vocal line and story that keeps the listener interested.