THE JOURNEY

Brazilian band Khallice do know their Dream Theater, especially the early releases. They know their hair metal, Maiden and Rush as well. And likes insert small fusiony bits in the music here and there.

Unfortunately, they also like to explore lots and lots and lots of small musical segments in each song. So as you''re humming along to the cool heavy guitar riff overlayed with epic synths, or the gentle mood of the melancholic acoustic guitar with the fragile synths adding atmosphere, all too sudden the song takes a left turn into something completely different.

Again, again, and again.

Good musicians with good ideas here and there. Lots of talent overall, but with a clear developing potential when it comes to songwriting.

Oh all those albums I couldn't afford are now available with the now popular Internets and their world wide webs hoots. You have to pay respect to a person wanting to sound like Rush or Dream Theater. I mean, the time invested and the level of practice are astronomical and could cause a divorce if you're a family man. If you have kids, carry a picture of them because you might not recognize them after all that practice.

Just kidding. Oh it's good to have humor! Especially when listening to that steamy pile of...er...music. Laughing while listening to an album is never good, never. I actually laughed (or cringed, depending) at a few places while playing this record. The instrumentation is fine and the songs kinda make sense; these guys listened to a freakin' lot of Dream Theater. I mean a lot. And frankly, I would be happy to be able to play with such speed, especially in the keyboard department. It's probably their biggest strenght: there is a couple of awesome keyboard licks spread through the (painful) journey they offer us.

The singer made me grind my teeth in almost every song, he's just not cut for it. If you're not capable of imitating Labrie, sing at home and pretend you are. We are not in your home to listen so, it's okay. But doing it for the world to enjoy is taking a big chance at being laughed at. Despite all this, some moments are not so pumped from Rush or DT and could be a product of their own brains (like Turn the Page for instance).

The songs are ripoffs, the artwork kindergartenish, this record made me swear (lightly though) but I wish them all the best in the world. At least they tried.