AGE OF IMPACT

EXPLORERS CLUB were a project created by multi-instrumentalist and one of MAGELLAN's leaders Trent Gardner in late 90's.As Gardner has stated,he wanted through this project to expand his musical horizons.The first work of EXPLORERS CLUB came out in 1998 on Magna Carta label,entitled ''Age of impact'',where Gardner is helped by numerous well-known musicians, such as Billy Sheehan, John Petrucci, his brother Wayne, Terry Bozzio, Steve Howe and others.

You will definitely find a lot of similarities with MAGELLAN's music in here,but this time the compositions seem more complicated and at the same time symphonic,balancing extremely well between complexity and melody.There are a lot of majestic and grandiose keyboard passages in the vein of DREAM THEATER,CAIRO and E.L.P. ,which sometimes are blended with ultra-heavy guitar hooks, for which John Petrucci is responsible.Petrucci has also a lot of space to domiate the compositions with fusion-like solos,sometimes close to ROBERT FRIPP guitar style.Vocals are handled by the excellent voices of James La Brie,D.C. Cooper , Trent Gardner, Bret Douglas and Matt Bradley, so this is another strong point of the album.The melodic parts are absolutely fantastic, featuring sensitive guitar solos, grandiose keyboards and nice vocal performances, which will definitely thrill you.All in all,this project managed to accomplish its goal...Trent Gardner shines as a composer and he offered music fans a great work full of demanding musicianship and tremendous arrangements.4 stars and highly recommended by my side!