SYMBOLS OF TIME

I started quite some reviews with: about 10 years ago I bought this CD and it wasn't what I hoped for. When I played them again recently most of the times it still wasn't much different. But with this CD by Ivanhoe there's a slight change of opinion. I also bought this 10 years ago, hardly played it since, did so recently and guess what: I have to revise it somewhat because it's not so bad really. I think what put me off in the beginning was the voice of the leadsinger and actually, it still does but I must say the rest of the performance is not bad at all. It's not that I wax lyrical all over sudden about this but I have to be honest: Ivanhoe plays some nice progmetal here. Especially the last two songs are quite good. I give them 3 stars.

3.5 for sure

The second album rleased by german progressive metal Ivanhow is an underrated album from this field IMi in comparation with other works from that decade or period. Ivanhoe plays a great full of feel and techniques kind of prog metal , leaning in places towards neo prog, something like dutch Bagheera for ex, they are not overly metalized band like nowadays prog metal. The attraction is , they have a very solid musicianship + an excellent vocalist Andy B Franck, who is absolutly a killer voice for this kind of music. Pieces like Wide Open, Raining tears or Vibrations are suberb written nad has that catchy atmosphere that some bands had in mid '90's in prog metal, without copying Dream Theater at all. They had a sound of their own who is very german in aproach. A great album amed Symbols of time issued in 1995 and I guess among their best albums if not the main one from their catalogue. The vocalist was invited some years after this release , exactly in 2000 to joyn the power metal band Brainstorm from Germany where he made some fantastic prestation in vocal department, very strong voice powerfull and very distinctive in tone. So, this album Symbols of time is a fairly good album that desearves 3 stars, in places more like 3.5, some passages are fantastic where the keybords realy shines and not to mention the guitar. Great band and yet very unnoticed in prog metal circles.