SPACE ODYSSEY

Third album of this unknown band, named Tears of the sun issued at Candlelight in 2006 is a bit of a let down from previous two albums. A new vocalist recruted from progressive metal band Andromeda, didn't fit very well in the Space Odyssey sound, not bad but forgetable prestation in my opinion. Gone is the excellent young drumer Andreas Brobjer from previous album Astral episode who done fabulous work on that album, imagine he was only 17 years old when he recorded the drums on Astral episode, fabulous drumer in my opinion and so underrated. So, this album in no improvement over the first two, it sounds like a Black Sabbath version from Cross purposes era, even Andersson said is a crosses between Sabath and Whitsnake in places. THis time the band left the progressive metal moments and the neo classical ones and they turned to sounds a lit more like a hard/heavy band with kyboards added. Not bad, but I would expected more from this musicians who done a fbulous work on Astral episode. If overall sounds good, is kinda forgetable in my opinion, no really strong moments, only the voice and instrumental passages from a couple of pieces worth investigated like on Obsession - here this pieces is one on one with Cross purposes Black Sabbath album, same doomy atmosphre, heavy guitars, slow guitar riffs and all, good pieces after all, but the rest even sounds ok , to my ears are very usual stuff. I will give again 3 stars, but this time is less weaker then first album where also I've given 3 stars, and far from excellent Astral episode their best work without dout. Still worth some spins from time to time.

Space Odyssey is the band of great keyboard player Richard Andersson known from another progressive metal with neo classical touch named Majestic. After this band was disbanded in 2001 , Andersson decided to form another band , this time with more progressive metal elelents then before. First album od Sapce Odyssey named Embrace the galaxy issued at Regain records, like the next album, in 2003, have members from Flower Kings - the drumer Zoltan Csorsz, one of the best drumers from newer generation of musicians, great here, Magnus Nilsson from Time Requiem (this is another band where Richard Andersson is the main man of the band), Marcel Jacob from Malmsteen fame and the excellent vocalist Patrik Johansson from Lion's Share and Wuthering Heights. So another I might say big band, with famous musicians and in same time very talented. As you can figure the music Space Odyssey playes is something between Yngwie Malmsteen (Odyssey era 1988), some moments remind me of the previous band of Andersson, Majestic - progressive metal with a lot of neo classcism moments. If the voice of Patrik Johansson is very good, in place excellent, he remind me of Dio meets Coverdale (when he sings in lower register), the music to my ears, no matter how professional sounds, is a little the same with the hundred bands playing this music. No bad of course, but nothing intristing happens here. Some blistering keys are interluding very well with the guitars, but is like I'm hearing this album before on another band. I will give 3 stars, a good one for sure, but nothing special, their second one Astral episode is their most mature work and their best from all 3 for sure. If you like Malmsteen, Seven Seraphim, Time Requiem, Majestic this band can give you some good moments.

I quite like Embrace the Galaxy, but this one just grates on me. There's probably only 3 out of the 8 songs that I like (tracks 1, 2 and 4), the others just seem to be boring, repeat riffs and vocal lines and have overly long guitar and keyboard solos that are all the same.

For the uninitiated, Space Odyssey are sort of traditional metal/neoclassical prog and sound like Malmsteen, Rainbow, Dio era Sabbath and maybe Symphony X. The are extensive extended guitar and keyboard solos ala Malmsteen (or so I'm told). Patrik Johansson's vocals are also just a bit too much, the harsh side of Dio with a bit more extension and aggro. Great singer, good melodies, but I'd like to see more restraint ala Jorn Lande.

The musicianship is top notch, but if flashiness drowns out, and draws out, a song too long then it's all a bit pointless. At least Richard Andersson's keyboards provide a bit more than straight solos with some nice backing stuff, but it's still too much. A few tacky 80's keyboard sounds also eminate. The drums are a bit lack-lustre and don't add a great deal on this release either, sounds like they were recorded separately (and they probably were).

New album out soon, hopefully they 'breathe' a bit more than on this.

This is my first time when i listen to Space Odyssey. A good one in every way. Beautiful key parts through the album, good guitar. Their is so many good bands that needs attention, one of them is Space Odyssey. I'm impressed by the head of the band ,Richard Andersson how he understand music this days. A powerfull album who's a must for symphonyc prog heads. Astral episode is a damn good one, only if for the keys parts. The voice is something between David Coverdale and Dio, but is OK. All in all a 4 stars album for me. get it you wan't be deseppointed.