PRESENCE

Mercy Train maybe will don't ring any bells to prog listners when heared the name, but the musicians involved in this project are well known and respected in neo prog field in last decades. Featuring Karl Groom (from Threshold, Casino, Shadowland, etc) on guitar his mate from Threshold on keys Richard West, on bass is Peter Gee from Pendragon and solo aswell, on drums is another member from Threshold - Nick Harradence and on vocals is Richard Burge - so a gold line up like a supergroup, but what about the music. Well, despite being totaly unknown in prog circles and gone under the radar, Mercy Train music is pleasent most of the time, on the melodic side of neo prog. The one and only album released in 1993 named Presence at dutch label SI music. Similar with Pendragon, Landmarq or Casino, even with It Bites but little less intresting then those bands. Some more pop rockier moments add not far from It Bites fame combined with neo prog flavour is what I've found here. The vocal parts are good most of the time, the arrangements aswell, nice keys and specially the guitar lines are great, but overall is nothing close the excellent, only ok and nothing more. So, 3 star for this obscurity.