OPTICAL ILLUSION

On the first of September 2005 Richard Andersson started to compose the songs for "Optical Illusion", Time Requiems third studio album. Taking only two months to complete the eight songs, Richard had Göran Edmans voice in mind the whole process through.

Since Richard has always been interested in film music and the way they build up the special movements, just like the classical masters; the music could best be described as neo - progressive film - musical metal...

Everything was recorded, mixed and even mastered in Richards Lipton studio. Having this total control from beginning to end is the fact that the result is vividly stunning. The artwork idea was developed by Richard in collaboration with art director Mattias Norén at Progart Media in Sweden. Mattias has done artwork for artists such as Ayreon, Evergrey and Stratovarius.

"Optical Illusion" will once again prove that Time Requiem is in the elite of bands playing neoclassic influenced metal. Their musicianship is stunning, the songs enticingly progressive, perfectly composed and performed. This is an album for the true neoclassic metal connoisseur.

Listening to Time Requiem from the start,very good new vocals,but not much different from the last two albums.A very tehnical album,a good example of how neo-progressive music should sound like...

After the excellent previous album where all musicians realy shine, the head of the band and main composer Richard Anderson decided to have another line up for this album, exit the vocalist Apollo Papathanasio he was replaced by Goran Edman known from Karmakanic, Vindictiv, etc, exit the 2 Flower Kings members and replace with 2 unknow ones to me at least. This new line up in the end done a good job, realy, maybe not so fantastic as before but ok. The vocalist is more towards hard rock style, his melodical vocal lines are ok but was not so impressive as Apollo Papathanasio, to my ears. The music aswell tend to be more on melodic side of prog metal the that powerful neo classical progressive metal from previous albums. Still a pretty decent effort with good moments, pieces like Optical Illusion are excellent and shows true talent of the band. Very worthy again keyboards parts. 3 stars, good but less enjoyble and great then their second effort. I don't think is their best album, and for sure is not, was the best rated album from all 3 and is quite strange because The inner circle is by far their best.