IMAGINE

Unable to find the right voice to match their incredible instrumental abilities, the members of Houston, Texas based Stride made the tough decision to release their first album "Music Machine" as an instrumental effort. This was in 2001 and the results generated positive reviews around the world as the band garnered acclaim from Burrn! Magazine in Japan, Aardschok in The Netherlands, as well as various metal sites on the Internet. With their local following continuing to expand, the band was always on the lookout for the right singer and finally in 2004 they connected with Gary Belin. Their new demo not only caught the attention of Sensory but also the promoters of ProgPower USA. In conjunction with their signing to Sensory, the band was also invited to perform at ProgPower VI in Atlanta. The reaction was immediate as the band blew the roof off of Earthlink Live and the buzz has not stopped since then. So what's the secret to Stride's success? The answer is obvious actually: Stride has the uncanny ability to blend insane chops from hell with infectious anthem-like melodies served up by a vocalist that instantly reminds you of greats like Steve Perry and Steve Walsh. "Imagine" draws its energy from the technicality of Dream Theater and a touch of the polished hard rock sounds of Journey. It's a combination that has already captured the attention of progressive metal fans around the world. (From Sensory Site)

Dream Theater meets Kansas meets YES. Insane chops, and amazing vocals. Woah.

I have a confession to make ... I love progressive rock and I also love classic rock , so how was I to feel when I finaly heard this CD, lets just say I dropped my jaw and couldn`t believe how well it all came together. Stride have Dream Theater chops consider it if Dream Theater and Boston merged into the same band, throw in some intelligent Enchant or even Rush lyrics (though the lyrics like the music are diverse also) then get Brad Delp or Steve Walsh to manage the vocals and that just about sums up what culminates in this CD. Theres not a bad song on this CD, about the nearest CD in style to it I can think of is Presto Ballets "piece among the ruins" if you liked that you will LOVE what Stride have managed to accomplish here, I would call its (neo Bach melodic classic prog metal rock) because they cover all those styles and do it with perfection ! Stride should greatly appeal to anybody thats into Kansas , Rush , Shadow Gallery , Dreamtheater Symphony X and even Boston Stride are a powerful act that have definitely achieved something great with this recording ! Get this CD as soon as possible its a masterpiece !

Stride "imagine" is probably better that 95% of prog metal out there !

Yes this is one of the best prog albums in 2005. Stride is a band with very specific optimistic atmosphere and the excellent songwriting.

When I listen to this album I have a big adrenaline level in very positive way. I think that one of the best elements on the album are the vocal parts which are very persuasive...

Yes I like this band very much and looking forward for the next album, hope will bevery soon plus a bit better production please...

Stride- Progressive Metal from Texas, USA.

After hearing a few of the songs on progulus radio- I was very optimistic to get my hands on the CD. After a few listens- I have come to the conclusion that this is a pretty good album.

Stride introduces a new singer here, Gary Belin. He kind of sounds straight out of the 80's. I think it's pretty easy to tell where his inspirations were. The singing is not my favorite- but it is OK. The boys in the band can PLAY. I highy reccomend an ealier albm of theirs- entitled "Music Machine"- which showcases their musical and technical abilities. The music here on "imagine" is nice as well- although I wanted to hear a few intrumentals on this CD- at times I want to juest hear the music for a while- and the singer pops in- giving some songs a very pop-esque feel. The song writing is fair- and a big reason that I do not give this album 4 stars. Some songs are just a little forgetable. Can I add just one more complaint? What's with the tuning in the snare drum? It sounds horrible- which may make me a little bias- because I love to drum. The guitar, bass, and synth sound fine, but the drum kit sounds cheap!!

A good CD- a mix if you will in classic rock/hair metal/prog metal.

This band can go places, but I think they are still growing.

i came up to listen to this band in searching of new prog metal options on the net, since i live in a country where prog is not popular, at first glance i thought , well this is another dream theater-esque band, so puopular trend on these days but with every song that concept just change, and now after 2 o 3 complete listenings, i can assure you this is nothi9ng you hve encounter before , virtuossism and refreshing sound is the key to this album, and i assure you that even if you want it or not, this album will become a classic after the years.

check the waiting and ion drive , best songs in the album, Mindblowing!!

keep the work kids you are doing fantastic

final score. 4.5

How does one ruin a mildly interesting prog-metal group? By throwing in a superfluous, corn-ball vocalist who sounds like a relic from the late '80's-- belting out terrible lyrics with castrati charisma and a voice that sounds like a bizarre mix of James Labrie, Steve Perry and Brad Delp.

Seriously, any credibility Stride had as serious, artistic musicians goes out the window as soon as their new front man Gary Berlin begins crooning Alive, a feel-good anthem that demands to be retroactively added to the soundtrack to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City or any of the million-and-one montage scenes in those '80's teen movies.

Seriously though, adding a singer was an odd decision for this otherwise very talented group; their previous Music Machine may have lacked any new ideas but at least it was a fine display of potential-- this is just goofy. To the band's credit, they have found a much higher production with this release, making their few moments of instrumental excellence sound better than before; there is some genuinly intersting axe-work going on here. Of course, these few passages of serious playing are thrown out the window when it comes time to roll down the windows, put on the your raban sunglasses and sing-along to the laughably cheesy vocals.

At least it has camp value.

Songwriting: 2 Instrumental Performances: 3 Lyrics/Vocals: 2 Style/Emotion/Replay: 1

Man I love this album. I was reminded of a heavier ENCHANT with the melodic songs and great vocals. An AOR flavour to this music for sure, and yes there's even an eighties Metal vibe going on. Yet this band just blows the doors off with their complex and heavy play. The lyrics are incredible as well. I really connect emotionally with the words here, it's often quite uplifting.The singer has a very strong voice, but it's the instrumental work that is so jaw dropping throughout.

"Imagine" is one of those songs that lyrically is so meaningful to me. The mellow intro with those background synths is absolutely crushed by heavy drums and then a full sound as the guitar comes in ripping it up. Vocals follow with power. Check out the guitar solo before 3 1/2 minutes, followed by a more aggressive solo before 4 minutes. This one simply rocks. "Alive" opens with someone trying to find something good on the radio. Speed of light guitar melodies follow with pounding drums. It settles down as vocals come in. After 3 1/2 minutes it's hard and heavy with some fantastic instrumental work. This song is about driving around and listening to music and feeling so alive. I can relate. "Endevour To Persevere" is uptempo instrumental with some Jasun Tipton-like guitar early. A nice heavy, fast paced rhythm with background synths leads the way. Blistering guitar 1 1/2 minutes in when the tempo changes. This is a killer instrumental work out. It blends into "How Far" where the heaviness continues. Reserved vocals come in as it settles. This contrast continues. I like the soaring vocals and the heaviness that comes and goes. Great tune.

"Role Model" opens with a light melody that is copied by a heavier one. Nice. A stampede of drums and bass comes in after a minute. It becomes mellow with piano and reserved vocals before 2 minutes. Heaviness is back 4 1/2 minutes in with complex guitar melodies. "The Waiting" opens with a blast of instrumental music before reserved vocals come in. They get more passionate as does the music especially after 3 minutes. "Ion Drive" is another instrumental. Complex guitar to open with ground shaking drums and bass. Organ a minute in. The guitar rips it up throughout,and check out the drumming 3 minutes in. "Face The Day" opens with pounding drums followed by some beautiful guitar. Reserved vocals take over with keys. It gets heavier a minute in as contrast continues. Very uplifting at times. Crushing section before 3 1/2 minutes. Man the drums are heavy 5 1/2 minutes in. "Time" opens with fragile vocals and piano. Some cool vocal harmonies follow. Beautiful guitar solo before the fragile vocals with light drums are back. It kicks into gear 2 minutes in. Contrast continues. Love the guitar 4 minutes in. Those vocal harmonies end it.

I can see some people not liking this because of the AOR flavour, but this also reaches close to ZERO HOUR territory at times. For me it's a solid 4 star, feel good album.

Great prog metal CDs are few and far between and what makes them great is always a debatable issue. Stride are a gifted band they seem to cover all areas when it comes to skill, their music is rich is melody and very well craft . Stride don't talk about slaying dragons in their lyrics the song writing approach is uplifting slightly philosophical and has a positive effect on the listener that's lasting and deeply moving. Don't expect Yes type positive lyrics (talk to the sunlight caller type lyrics) Stride are positive in a more down to earth way than that, try to imagine the song More Than A Feeling by the band Boston ... make Boston a true to form Prog Metal band with unbelievable chops that rival even Symphony x then Imagine what the result may be like get the picture ? The singer is top class when you hear his voice you will probably get goose bumps (Yes that good) think Steve Walsh in his prime Brad Delp in his prime or Steve Perry in his prime thats how good the vocals honestly are.

I think every prog fan owes it to themselves to check out Stride I have no invested interest in the band I`m just a prog fan like you that knows a great thing when I hear it. 9/10 rounded to five stars

I love this band and what they are about .... awesome !!!

I got interested in this band after I heard the streamsong on this site. That song was from their debut in 2001 and I had never heard of the band. But checking out their latest I think the streamsong was a pretty good example of what this band is capable of. And looking at the ratings of these two albums (2001 & 2005) I think I might have picked the right one here.

The opening (title) track immediately gets you in the right mood. This is pretty accessible prog metal (well many proggers say all prog metal is accessible so it's actually a pleonasm) but who cares as long as it sounds great. Second track, Alive is even a bit better with great instrumental contribution (solos).

Endeavor to Persevere is the first of the two instrumentals, another one with almost mindblowing passages of both guitar and keys. Let's not forget excellent drumming also. This band likes to play fast and so do I.

How Far is a little bit slower, a slightly ballad like song with good vocal contribution. Another very fine composition I believe. Stride proves with this track that they can also play the great atmospheric style. At times they remind me of a Def Leppard like sound, it tends toward the eighties rock but surely it's more complex and more inventive. Great track this.

Role model is the longest track of the album. It starts fairy-like first notes but the rough guitars disturb the fairly tale. Never mind, heavy drums taking the thing to metal standard before it all quiets down again and takes the ballad turn all over sudden. A song full of surprises you might say. Piano like keys accompany the vocals and the song transforms once again into an average prog metal track, well not average in the meaning of mediocre more like a usual one, but not cliche or cheap. Versatile track is the best description all in all. This one has it all and is one of the highlights to me without becoming really outstanding.

The Waiting is another mix of sensitivity and true prog metal of the best sort, this band has the ability to change the mood within the songs several times without problem. I think it works really nice. Main thing is they play their music excellent, the songs run really smooth, these guys know their job for sure. It's hard to compare them with one of the famous prog metal bands. Except for the vocal aspect they sound a bit like Evergrey, more or less same style, same high quality.

Ion Drive is the second instrumental and is like the first one where the speed is concerned. Needless to say that the instrumental tracks are also a big quality of Stride. They are not really long but they are pretty impressive nonetheless.

And if you think the best part is behind us at this point, wrong ! The album closes with two more longish excellent tracks, Face the Day and Time (the last minute of this track reminds me of the last minute of Giant by Saga from their Beginners Guide album. If this is coincidence it's funny because the resemblance is huge !). This means there are no fillers allowed with this band, a feature I really appreciate. I'm not a fan of half good/half poor albums, don't like having to skip songs during an album.

No need for that with Stride and I think that the conclusion for this album can only be a positive one. Only downside to me is the length of total playing time. Only 50 minutes, I like the 70 minute cases so that's a slight minus. It will not prevent me from giving it 4 solid stars.

What a musical pearl is this album!Working hard for many years in the Texas area,the band lead by the impressive guitar player JOEL GREGOIRE and the sensational drummer MATT KANZLER,got finally a deal with the very serious and respected SENSORY RECORDS label ! The addition of the beautiful voice of GARY BELIN seemed at the time to represent enough argumets for a promissing band,with a huge potential!The previous albums released-the self produced MUSIC MACHINE and the Christmas album were very well apreciated by the prog aficionados!Of course,the DREAM THEATER stamp,was the guaranteed certificate of high quality music,not at all a musical clone of the prog icons,but of a band with personality and great compsitional skills!Technically speaking the guys were perfect and everything was very pwell done!Unfortunatelly,it didn't fit with the vocalist and due some internal problems the band splitted shortly after the release of this magical album!The cover is superbe and on this album we have at least 2 masterpieces called ION DRIVE-an instrumental composition and IMAGINE, a trully inspired and beautiful musical moment! We hope to hear again about this band,or other musical endeavours of the members of STRIDE -some very talented musicians!Anyway,thank u STRIDE for an album of this caliber and high class!4,5 STARS-and congratulations!

Stride is one of the prog metal bands that I liked since the beggining I've heared the first note of this album. This is the type of prog metal I like, is complex with solid musicianship, has plenty of rich instrumental passages and above all a great voice. This is their third album and the latest to date named Imagine from 2005. What a pleasent surprise was this album in 2005 for me and still is after so many years, kick ass al the way. The album has 9 pieces , 2 of them entirely instrumental Endeavor To Persevere and Ion drive, what great tracks, energic progressive metal with great arrangements, killer guitar chops and awesome druming, excellent. The rest are with voice and the voice of Gary Belin is brilliant and fits in this kind of music like glove on hand, melodic and in same time little harsh in his tone of voice, I realy like it. The music is complex with many twists and turns, even the pieces are not very lenghty all are under 7 min, but the passages and arrangements are very rich , each instrument done a great work, for instance on the opening track Imagine, the guitar is simply killer, Joel Gregoire manage to do some of the most intristing solos I've heared on a prog metal album for years, the keybords dueling very eficient with the guitar. So, one of the most enjoyble prog metal albums I've heared so far and a special place in my collection, still quite unknown to larger public in comparation with other names. Recommended, very solid album with intristing compostions. 4 stars easy.