TAKE ME HOME

The sophomore album from a music project which has to be filed under the term solo venture, initiated by Ruud Jolie of Within Temptation fame. No need to act overambitious, to handle everything on your own, as he's in goods relation to a lot of like-minded bands and artists. Hence the twelve songs are recorded with major support coming from Pain Of Salvation (ex-)collaborators like Kristoffer Gildenlöw (bass) and Léo Margarit (drums) for example. Very important of course to have an appropriate lead singer aboard, namely Jermain Van Der Bogt aka Wudstik, who occasionally has sung for Arjen Lucassen's Ayreon. All In One Breath ... this album is one hell of an exemplar. Here we have metal and heavy prog songs featuring really strong songwriting. Means having a range from soft and charming to heavy and aggressive, evolving back and forth.

Breath: In ... currently I'm not aware of very much albums that are appealing from the first to the last minute ... hence it's not easy to highlight any particular song, 'cause this sounds very coherent. Breath: Hold ... the title track probably makes the masterpiece. Ruud Jolie's guitar playing, acoustic as well as electric, is rather dominant of course, where Marco Kuypers (piano) acts more in a restrained manner. Let Me Fly features wonderful Hammond organ backing by Thijs Schrijnemakers, and We Are The Light sees Anneke van Giersbergen being involved with some additional vocals, just as a duet together with Wudstik. Breath: Out ... yet my summary: Ruud Jolie's project FOR ALL WE KNOW is a fine addition to your prog collection, definitely worth it to be checked out.