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THE DARKENED ROOM

Izz

Symphonic Prog


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Izz The Darkened Room album cover
4.03 | 156 ratings | 6 reviews | 22% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2009

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Swallow Our Pride (5:16)
2. Day Of Innocence (2:56)
3. Regret (4:32)
4. Can't Feel The Earth, Part I (4:39)
5. Ticking Away (2:47)
6. Can't Feel The Earth, Part II (10:36)
7. Stumbling (5:23)
8. The Message (3:07)
9. 23 Minutes Of Tragedy (7:00)
10. Can't Feel The Earth, Part III (5:07)

Total Time: 51:23

Line-up / Musicians

- Anmarie Byrnes / vocals
- Paul Bremner / electric & acoustic guitars
- Tom Galgano / keyboards, vocals
- John Galgano / bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
- Brian Coralian / electronic & acoustic drums, percussion
- Greg DiMiceli / acoustic drums, percussion

Releases information

CD Doone Records - DR8-669563 (2009, US)

Thanks to rivertree for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
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IZZ The Darkened Room ratings distribution


4.03
(156 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(22%)
22%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(59%)
59%
Good, but non-essential (15%)
15%
Collectors/fans only (4%)
4%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

IZZ The Darkened Room reviews


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

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Epignosis
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars After the brilliant My River Flows, The Darkened Room rose toward the top of my must-have list for 2009. The production is crisp and clear but not inhuman, and the band is probably at their tightest-sounding. I especially love how this group uses an array of creative tones and sounds and yet maintains their unique identity as a band. Fans of acts like IQ will find much to love about this release. There's approximately fifteen minutes of this album I'm consistently disappointed with, but the rest of it is fantastic.

"Swallow Our Pride" Atmospheric, low guitar, gentle percussion, and soft vocals begin the record. The easing in of the harmonic feminine singing is a welcome moment. The listener is then treated to a warbling synthesizer solo and some heavy guitar.

"Day of Innocence" I was not expecting an acoustic guitar and bass duet here, but that's what ensues- a very pleasant piece of music that picks up with some drums and electric guitar later on.

"Regret" A great progressive pop song with a prominent bass and a few light instrumental passages, this is a catchy little song that really offers the best of IZZ in a stripped-down manner.

"Can't Feel the Earth, Part I" I don't particularly care for this track. There's a disharmony throughout, with a lot of "falling-down-the-stairs" piano moments. The electric guitar work here is a compensation.

"Ticking Away" That strange rhythm and bass work is brilliant, and the vocals are magnificent. This is for me the best track on the album- a real treat with some remarkable vocal harmonies and gorgeous, uplifting melodies.

"Can't Feel the Earth, Part II" After a fast-paced bit of guitar and synthesizer, ghostly female vocals and searing electric guitar create impassioned melodies over a musical bed that demonstrates pure sonic craftsmanship. The male vocals during the piano-led, almost ELP-like section aren't quite as convincing, and neither is the composition during this time, since it admittedly sounds like a jazzy mess.

"Stumbling" Exhibiting their fine dynamics once again, this song features floating vocals over a jazz-infused rock backing. While not their best moment, it's still quite good.

"The Message" Thudding bass and delicate piano create a foundation for soft vocals and lead guitar interruptions. Like the previous track, this one is decent but substandard for IZZ.

"23 Minutes of Tragedy" One of the most immediately gripping tracks for me the first time I heard this album- ethereal guitar and wraithlike vocals craft memorable melodies and powerful moments. The lead guitar solo rips through the music, as the whole atmosphere adopts a Pink Floyd-like visage. Finally, the new synthesizer-led theme is pure magic, drawing the piece to a mighty conclusion.

"Can't Feel the Earth, Part III" The final, contemplative track has a progressive country flavor initially, but soon becomes more like typical IZZ, once again boasting great dual vocals, intriguing bass, rocking lead guitar, and some fine keyboard wizardry- as I said, typical IZZ.

Review by BrufordFreak
COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars IZZ is a very good neo/heavy prog group much in the vein of PORCUPINE TREE and RIVERSIDE whose discography is just below that threshold of "top tier." Often very catchy (sometimes syrupy) melodies, tagged onto dark, heavy music performed buy very accomplished musicians. The guitarist and keyboardists, in particular, are quite masterful at their respective instruments. The Darkened Room is my favorite IZZ album. Great recording engineering and production.

Album highlights: 1. "Swallow Our Pride" (5:16) (8/10); the EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER-like classically-tinged 4. "Can't Feel the Earth, Part I" (4:39) (8/10); the female-vocal-laden, AYREON-like 6. "Can't Feel the Earth, Part II" (10:37) (9/10); 9. "23 Minutes of Tragedy" (7:00) (9/10), and; 10. "Can't Feel the Earth, Part III" (5:08) (9/10).

4.5 stars, almost a masterpiece but in reality an excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection.

Review by kev rowland
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Reviewer
5 stars Izz were formed in the Nineties, and even though this album is from 2009, those Nineties influences are plain to hear. This is symphonic progressive rock from a band at the very top of their game, and given that since this album they have recruited former Gentle Giant and current 3 Friends guitarist, Gary Green, into the line-up, I am incredibly intrigued to hear what they are doing now. Harmony vocals? Yup. Plenty of intricately woven melodies? Check. Music that makes the listener stay through to the end and then hit repeat? Double check. This is one of the most exciting albums I have heard from the States since I first came across Spock's Beard, Glass Hammer, Discipline, Timothy Pure and Iluvatar back in the day. It has that sort of impact, and whatever passage I am listening to, of whatever song, is the best bit. There is some beautiful bass on this album, and while they rarely come across as anyone else, there are times when it sounds as if Chris Squire has his hand on the frets.

They're not afraid to slow it down, and bring in just gentle piano and vocals (and a triangle ? when was the last time you heard one of those on a prog album?). "Can't feel The Earth (Pt.1)" is incredible from start to end, with as much owed to modern classical music as it does to traditional progressive rock (although there are a few Gentle Giant tendencies it must be said). The more I played this he more I kept telling myself that these guys are still active, and released four studio albums before this one and three afterwards (as well as a live album and a DVD) so what are the others like? I feel that I have been missing out, yet at the same time am excited that there is so much more great music to discover by these guys. They released their debut album some eighteen years ago and are still going strong, which is quite some achievement.

Quite simply, if you enjoy progressive rock, then this is an album that you just have to get, and once you have fallen in love with this as I have, then there is plenty more out there to discover.

Latest members reviews

4 stars "Excellent music between progressive pop and Classic Prog" IZZ is a four piece formation that was founded in the second half of the Nineties, after their well received debut CD entitled Sliver Of A Sun (1999) IZZ released another six studio-albums (along ... (read more)

Report this review (#1953692) | Posted by TenYearsAfter | Tuesday, July 31, 2018 | Review Permanlink

3 stars It is difficult to discuss these boys instrumentalist expertise. The during Darkened Room it is seen clearly. The music takes hold in the excellent parts of piano, keyboards and guitar contributions. The album shows a more mature that 'My River Flows', but I like more the one published in 2005 ... (read more)

Report this review (#988852) | Posted by sinslice | Saturday, June 29, 2013 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Definitelly IZZ is one of the most pleasant and valuable American bands in today;s progressive world!Thay have already some beautiful albums released,and I am sure a solid base of fans,because their live activity,even not too intense,is at least regular! The albums are self released at their ow ... (read more)

Report this review (#256599) | Posted by Ovidiu | Thursday, December 17, 2009 | Review Permanlink

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