THE LITTLE BOY'S HEAVY MENTAL SHADOW OPERA ABOUT THE INHABITANTS OF HIS DIARY

Reviewing this "band" and album is actually the same thing as reviewing an album by Vandenplas. Well, not quite fair and true because half of Abydos is also in Vandenplas (Andy Kuntz and Andreas Lill) but remarkably enough the sound is very much the same and that will have everything to do with the fact that Andy Kuntz writes all the songs for both Vandenplas and for this project Abydos.

The album starts with a short interlude that sounds pretty heavy, nice opener. 3,25*.

Second track, You broke the Sun, starts as a ballad for the first two minutes and gets a little more energetic after this. Nice orchestral contribution in the second part. 3,75*.

Silence is one of the better songs of the album and sounds indeed very much like Vandenplas. Nice heavy melodic song like Andy usually writes them. 4,25*.

Far away from Heaven starts the same way as second song and also here there is a switch to a heavier style in the second half of the song. Same score also. 3,75*.

Coppermoon (The other side) is another example and proof of my statement that this sounds like Vandenplas. It especially goes for this track. Excellent is another way to discribe a Vandenplas like song. This track also has a very nice keyboard section but in Abydos both Stefan Glass and Michael Krauss play guitar as well as keyboards so I have no Idea which of the two is responsable for this great play. 4*.

Hyperion Sunset goes on in the impressive classy style and is another very nice, heavy song with good instrumental contributions. 4*.

God's Driftwood gives the impression that this album is deliberately well balanced because though this song has its rougher edges it's much more diverse in moods within the song contrary to the previous tracks. Another very good one. 3,75*.

Radio Earth is suddenly out of the ordinary compared to all the others starting like a nice sounding pop song (maybe not strange regarding the title of the song) but this lasts just about over a minute, then getting a little heavier but the very nice acoustic guitar gives a special feel to it. Original track this. 3,75*.

Abydos is the title track, a quiet song with a melancholic intonation. I get the feeling the lyrics are significant on this one. I haven't lost myself in the lyrics yet I have to admit. Somehow not really my favourite song on the album but that's personal. Not bad though. 3,5*.

Green's Guidance for a Strategy Adventure Game is a short interlude with synth tricked vocals. 2*.

Wildflowersky is the second highlight to me and one of those with a real Vandenplas feel to it. Another fantastic cracker, always loved this one. 4,25*.

A Boy named Fly and together with previous track, the sting is in the tail you might say because this epical closer is the third truly superb track on the album securing the 4 star rating definitively. 4,5*.

Needless to state this is a succesful project by Andy Kuntz, he did a fine job here. 4 stars is the reward.