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MEMOIRS OF A BROKEN MAN

Futures End

Progressive Metal


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Futures End Memoirs of a Broken Man album cover
3.39 | 17 ratings | 4 reviews | 24% 5 stars

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Studio Album, released in 2009

Songs / Tracks Listing


1. Relentless Chaos (7:03)
2. Inner Self (7:00)
3. Endless Journey (4:29)
4. Your Decay (6:08)
5. Beyond Despair (5:28)
6. Share the Blame (5:54)
7. Foresaken (6:53)
8. Stand to Fall (6:44)
9. Terrors of War (7:28)
10. Remembering Tomorrow (5:59)
11. Powerslave (Iron Maiden remake) (7:01)

Total Time 70:07

Line-up / Musicians


- Fred Marshall / vocals
- Marc Pattison / lead guitar
- Christian David Wentz / lead guitar
- Steve DiGiorgio / bass
- John Allen / drums

Releases information

CD Nightmare Records (2009)

Format: CD & MP3
UPC: 734923006220
Cat#: NMR-512

Thanks to TheProgtologist for the addition
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FUTURES END Memoirs of a Broken Man ratings distribution


3.39
(17 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(24%)
24%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(35%)
35%
Good, but non-essential (41%)
41%
Collectors/fans only (0%)
0%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

FUTURES END Memoirs of a Broken Man reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars 3.5 stars. FUTURES END came about when the two lead guitarists (Christian Wentz & Marc Pattison) decided to do a musical project together.They added Fred Marshall which is why I became interested in this album to begin with, knowing him as the vocalist on ZERO HOUR's "A Fragile Mind" album. Steve DiGiorgio (bass) came on along with Jon Allen (drums). So an all-star cast to be sure with some guest vocals from Lance King and Lucho Silva. Wentz also plays piano and keyboards while Pattison adds keyboard programming and sequecing. For me the music is fairly similar to ZERO HOUR at times, not quite as heavy overall though.This is a concept album and the story is detailed at length in the liner notes. It's about a soldier who returns home with his friend from war, the only two from the unit to survive. He has a terrible drinking problem which causes his woman to leave and his friend ends up committing suicide. It's obviously a dark subject but the silver lining is that our subject struggles back to his feet and forgives himself to actually "live" once again.

"Relentless Chaos" opens with atmosphere and I like the narration to start as our subject describes the experience of war and the rage he feels as he heads home.The dam was about to break.The music kicks in with that twin gutiar attack and heavy drums. Oh yeah ! The vocals spit out the lyrics. Some crazy synths at times on this one. A great uptempo track. "Inner Self" opens with heavy drums and background synths. Nice. It kicks in at a minute with the guitars buzzing.Vocals before 2 minutes. It settles 4 minutes in with atmosphere,drums then vocals. It kicks back in a minute later.Some killer guitar here. "Endless Journey" opens with guitar as the drums and bass kick in heavily and vocals follow.Great sound here. Check out the bass after 1 1/2 minutes. Love the overlapping vocals too. Amazing guitar show before 3 1/2 minutes.

"Your Decay" opens with outbursts of heaviness that come and go then it settles in with vocals. A calm with reserved vocals 2 minutes in. Ripping guitar follows when it kicks back in. It ends with deep atmosphere and the sound of his friend getting shot (suicide). "Beyond Despair" is almost ballad-like with acoustic guitars and reserved vocals.This is surprisingly good for that style. "Share The Blame" opens with orchestral synths as the sound builds. It's built ! Vocals join in. I like the guitar / drum section 4 minutes in. "Forsaken" opens with narration then it kicks in quickly.Great sound ! Nice guitar solo 3 1/2 minutes in.

"Stand To Fall" is heavy with vocals a minute in. A calm with acoustic guitar before 2 1/2 minutes and vocals join in. It's building before 4 minutes. "Terrors Of War" opens with lots and lots of gun fire before the guitar and drums take over.Vocals after 1 1/2 minutes. I like the guitar solo before 6 minutes. "Remembering Tomorrow" opens with heavy bass and drums and the tempo picks up. Vocals as it settles back some. Guitar comes in after 2 1/2 minutes. Nice.There is a bonus track which is a cover of IRON MAIDEN's "Powerslave".This is the best MAIDEN cover I have ever heard. Absolutley smoking !

I wasn't blown away by this record but it's certainly worth checking out if your into Prog-Metal.

Review by siLLy puPPy
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR PSIKE, JRF/Canterbury, P Metal, Eclectic
3 stars Despite releasing a single album in 2009, FUTURES END is still officially a bona bide active band and has been touted as a supergroup due to the fact that several members were in various metal bands in their career however that might be a stretch. The band was formed in Martinez, CA by guitarists Christian Wentz and Marc Pattison. Both Wentz and Pattison played in the Tampa, FL based Circle II Circle but the other lineup is what makes progressive metal fans salivate.

Along for this wild progressively infused power metal ride are drummer Joe Allen who has played in various bands including Dragonlord, Masqued, Sadus and Testament. Also on board is Zero Hour vocalist Fred Marshall but the true star of the show is bassist Steve DiGirogio who has played with long resume of metal acts: Artension, Autopsy, Charred Walls of the Damned, Control Denied, Dark Hall, Death, Dragonlord, Futures End, Iced Earth, Painmuseum, Roadrunner United, Sadus, Scariot, Soen, Testament. There were also a few guest musicians. Supergroup? Maybe, but whatever.

Hitting the market in 2009, FUTURES END caught the attention of the prog metal community with its so far only release MEMOIRS OF A BROKEN MAN which was received quite well and won all kinds of accolades for the stellar performances displayed. This is a concept album about a man who returns from war, falls into depression and becomes an alcoholic. His only friend commits suicide and he spirals deeper into the ultimate depression but ultimately if you pay attention the lyrical content, the story ends with a positive resolution which is what everyone wants from such a traumatic ordeal i would guess.

FUTURES END delivered a bombast power metal album infused with progressive twists and turns that take things a little further. The band has rightfully been compared to bands like Symphony X and Dream Theater but in all honesty isn't quite as creative as either band. Melodically the band is quite strong and technically as well with hard driving power grooves that display the member's most ferocious chops. Creatively though, MEMOIRS OF A BROKEN MAN falls short as there really isn't enough divers elements to warrant a 70 minute bombastic metal experience. While a few slower moments occur, FUTURES END delivers a balls to the wall Dragonforce inspired speedfest from beginning to end.

First flaw is that this album is way too derivative of Symphony X with its neoclassical guitar runs, heavy guitar riffing and vocal style. Second flaw is that the tracks are too similar. While the final track 'Powerslave,' a remake of the classic Iron Maiden track is perfectly performed, it seems totally incongruous with the overall concept and thematic flow. In the end, this is a satisfying technical display of musical chops but i sure wish that it would've been honed into a more interesting listening experience. All that is missing is some original content. Oh well, the desire to cash in on popular sounds is nothing new but this album is a testament to why so many bands fail to carryon on after an initial wow factor. Definitely worth a listen if you can't get enough Symphony X inspired technical prowess but unsatisfying if you want an album with staying power.

Review by UMUR
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars "Memoirs of a Broken Man" is the debut full-length studio album by US progressive/power metal act Futures End. The album was released through Nightmare Records in October 2009. Futures End formed in 2007 and feature quite a few prolific names in the lineup. The quintet lineup consists of bassist Steve DiGiorgio (Sadus, Testament, Death...etc.), drummer Jon Allen (Sadus, Dragonlord, Testament...etc.), guitarist Christian David Wentz (Circle II Circle, The Element), guitarist Marc Pattison (Destiny's Void, Chemical Burn, Circle II Circle), and lead vocalist Fred Marshall (Destiny's Void, Zero Hour).

So without even talking about it, weīve established by looking at the names involved, that the musicianship is top notch on "Memoirs of a Broken Man". Stylistically the material is a progressive tinged form of US power metal performed with great technical skill. Marshall is a powerful and commanding singer (Iīm personally not sold on his voice, although he is undeniably a skilled vocalist), and the album is loaded with high level drumming and bass playing (...itīs the Sadus rhythm section so itīs a matter of course), and very intricate guitar riffs and lead work. Fans of the genre should be able to find a lot to enjoy here. The material are relatively varied with both hard edged US power metal tracks, intricate semi-progressive moments, and the occasional more power ballad type sections.

"Memoirs of a Broken Man" features 11 tracks and a total playing time of 70:07 minutes. 10 originals and a cover of "Powerslave" by Iron Maiden closing the album. While itīs slightly too long for itīs own good, itīs not an album featuring an excess of filler material. Itīs more a matter of 70 minutes generally being a very long playing time for any release and a shorter more focused release could have felt even stronger than this version. The album is packed in a detailed and powerful sounding production, so upon conclusion itīs a high quality release by Futures End. A 3.5 (70%) rating is deserved (probably higher if you appreciate Marshallīs voice more than I do).

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

Latest members reviews

5 stars Futures End is not exactly a 'supergroup', but looking at the pedigree of the five guys in the band, I suppose you'd be forgiven for thinking so. At one time in 'rival' bands, guitarists Marc Pattison and Christian Wentz decided to work on something together, initially to see what would happen ... (read more)

Report this review (#381813) | Posted by usa prog music | Monday, January 17, 2011 | Review Permanlink

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