PARALLEL MINDS

Label-wise released roundabout two months BEFORE the real debut, "Parallel Minds" shows us matured CONCEPTION, the compositions are rounder and more compact, as you can hear in the opening up-tempo-track "Water Confines". Musically they have stayed true to their sound, slightly progressive Melodic Metal, which mainly lives off Tore Østby's guitar-wizardry and Khan's brilliant vocals, but both elements are always used for the good of the song, no solo-escapades ruining the flow of the songs or one part growing too dominant. Just as on the debut the production is more than convincing either, each instrument has its clear sound, everything is coming over very powerful.

More classics are "Roll The Fire", more mid-paced, very direct, very intense, great atmosphere, the great ballad "Silent Crying", "The Promiser" with its excellent lyrics and the almost nine-minute "Soliloquy", which covers almost all facets of Melodic/Progressive Metal.

Even though I miss the flamenco-parts of "The Last Sunset", still a great album by a great band, both thumbs up!

In a scene where most bands come as direct followers of prog styles defined by Queensryche, Dream Theater or Symphony X, Conception dare to state a difference. This album is clearly not their best, but the one that is well appreciated by the fans that are not really into them yet. This album has the complexity needed for a prog release of this kind, but is also really melodic. High quality lyrics that prove that Khan is also a really great lyric composer, apart from a really great singer. All songs are really worthy on this one, with "Roll the Fire" outstanding of the others, and taking the place of the band's most popular and appreciated song. It surely is not a masterpiece, neither Conception are a master-band but they are clearly one of the worth-listening bands in this genre. Check this out for sure.

"Parallel Minds" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Norwegian power/progressive metal act Conception. The album was released through Noise Records in September 1993. It´s the successor to "The Last Sunset" from 1991 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as session keyboard player Hans Christian Gjestvang has now become a permanent member of the band, making Conception a quintet on "Parallel Minds".

Conception continue the power metal style with progressive metal leanings they initiated on "The Last Sunset (1991)", but "Parallel Minds" is generally a much tighter and consistent release both in quality and style. The eclectic nature of the material on the debut album had its charm, but "Parallel Minds" is definitely a step up in quality. Conception are an interesting power metal act as they use both the lighter neo-classical and sometimes symphonic elements from the Euro power metal style and the more raw and heavy elements from the US power metal style (and also the melodic US power metal, which can be heard on the Queensrÿche influenced "The Promiser") and even add a few semi-progressive elements to spice the whole thing up.

The material are very well written. Cathcy, varied, melodic, heavy, and memorable, but it´s the incredible musicianship which is the icing on the cake. Roy Khan is a world class singer with a distinct sounding powerful voice and a commanding delivery, and the instrumentalist are also very skilled musicians. The rhythm section are solid and pounding out powerful beats and basslines, and guitarist Tore Otsby can´t be praised enough for his varied playing and many intriguing ideas (check out the heavy riff and the pinch harmonics on "My Decision"), while new man Gjestvang successfully creates atmosphere and epic moments but never in an abrasive manner. This is very tasteful power metal.

"Parallel Minds" features a well sounding professional sound production. Some may find the drums a little dry sounding, but personally I enjoy the tone of the drums and the production choices made regarding the drums and the rest of the instruments and the vocals. "Parallel Minds" is upon conclusion a high quality release through and through and a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

I welcome everyone in this forum and I am glad to be here with all the prog-fans!!! Nice to meet everyone! I would like to start my prog reports going in Parallel Minds by CONCEPTION.

Releasing Parallel Minds, Conception manage to arrive in an extremely beautiful genre of melodic-progressive metal, appearing power elements, too. The arresting voice of Roy Chan, the clean as a whistle guitar playing of Tore Ostby and the awesome duo of Ingar Amlien (bass) & Arve Heimdal (drums) create a marvelous atmosphere! We also have to mention the excellent undercurrent keys of Hans Gjestvang. Parallel Minds magnetizes you from the first note. All the songs are carefully composed (chiefly by Roy Chan & Tore Ostby) and you can notice the out-breathing fit of Chan's voice & Ostby's guitar. An excellent conjunction! Releasing a new style with this album as a group, Conception begin to be considered as a serious, extremely talented group. Finally, Parallel Minds will not disappoint anyone who belongs in the prog audience! A masterpiece according to me... Characteristic tracks: Water Confines, Roll the Fire, Parallel Minds, Silver Shine & My Decision. (without underrating the others, of course).

As a huge Prog-Metal fan this was a blast to listen to. I even like it more than the follow-up "In Your Multitude", this one "rocks" harder. The great Tory Otsby is on lead guitar and wrote all the music, while the equally great Khan is on vocals and wrote all the lyrics. Cool album cover as well.

"Water Confines" opens with riffs as Otsby lets it rip. Vocals join in as the riffs continue. Great sound here. Keys before 2 1/2 minutes as it settles. The guitar starts to cry out then it kicks back in. "Roll The Fire" opens with heavy sounds as the guitar solos. Here we go as riffs come crushing in. The guitar is very JUDAS PREIST-like here. It settles as vocals arrive. Contrasts continue. Ripping guitar late. "And I Close My Eyes" kicks in quickly. Amazing sound ! Very crunchy as vocals join in. Here we go 2 minutes in. A guitar solo follows. Nice. Just a light sow really. "Silent Crying" is a ballad and while I normally don't like ballads they do an excellent job here. It does get fuller and we get a tasteful guitar solo after 2 minutes. Good tune. "Parallel Minds" is heavy with synths and guitar as vocals join in.

"Silver Shine" opens with drums building as reserved vocals and keys come in. It kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes. Nice. It then settles as contrasts continue. The guitar is crying out 3 minutes in. Great tune ! "My Decision" builds until they're kicking major ass. Love this song ! Nice bass before 3 1/2 minutes. "The Promiser" opens with some powerful guitar and then it settles some as vocals arrive. It kicks back in as the guitar grinds it out. Khan is really getting a vocal work out on this one. "Wolf's Lair" makes me say "Ooooh ya !" Check out that guitar intro as drums pound. The guitar is all over this one. "Soliloquy" is the over 8 1/2 minute closer. It's divided into three parts. It's mellow to start with vocals. Some power after 2 minutes. Khan screams then it gets heavier. Check out the bass ! It settles 6 minutes in with reserved vocals before kicking back in after 7 1/2 minutes. Incredible sound ! Haunting piano ends it.

If your into that late 80's Prog-Metal i think you'll love this one.

Despite my built-in scepticism towards things neo-power-prog-metal, I found Conception's debut a great listen. Unfortunately, on the sophomore effort they gave up some of the elements that made them special.

The band follows the same pattern too much, all but one song are short verse - chorus rock songs with the mandatory guitar solo. It becomes too much of a formula and as it goes with formulaic albums, it only works for as long as the material is consistently good. But that is not the case here.

I first heard Conception on my weekly metal radio program back in 1993. Roll The Fire was the track the radio station choose to play and it's not a bad choice. It's very effective and gives a good impression of what this album is about. Alas, that more or less sums it up. Some songs are a bit slower, others are faster; there are a number of power ballads and one weak 9-minute epic. The best sits at the start. The opening Water Confines is a fast and powerful slab of metal similar to Dio's solo material: fast, rocking and catchy with poignant melodic vocals. In good Rainbow fashion the music has a distinct middle-eastern flavour, both in its rhythm and in the lyrical vocals and guitar solos. And I Close My Eyes and Roll The Fire are also good examples.

This album has not one surprise in store. After a debut album that did some side steps into other areas such as doom metal and even Latin music, the band decided to stick to their guns and comply with genre-expectations. While the result is competent, it's too much easy-listening really.

'Parallel Minds', Conceptions second album, vastly improves upon its predecessor. The songwriting seems more confident, with more interesting guitar riffs, a good use of keyboards and vocal melodies that seems more in sync with the music.

Sadly however, despite a few highlights, it's still a rather forgettable record.

Song's like 'Roll the Fire', 'And I Close My Eyes', 'Water Confines' and the title track are all decent enough, but the truth is, this is nothing more than generic progressive/power metal. There's countless other things out there that are so much better and memorable, that I never find myself coming back to this.

It's not a terrible release, and it does have its moments, but ultimately, let's face it, the only reason worth buying this today is if you're a fan of Roy Khan, who's post-Conception career would see him garner worldwide fame with the band Kamelot.