CASTLE IN THE AIR

NEGASPHERE "Castle in the air", taking in consideration the only review posted in P A and 4 ratings in total, the simple conclusion is : This Japanese Band is unknown for the most of P A community on the contrary of similar bands of the same country, as for instance NOVELA, TERU'S SYMPHONY ( lead by ex-Novela guitar player Terutsugu Hirayama ) and PALE ACUTE MOON, all of them with an superior average of ratings and reviews. In fact this band also is that have less releases (only 2 albums ) and probably is the reason of the lower number of reviews. However, I think which this first album if is not at the same level to the albums from the other bands, at least not is so inferior. The music of NEGASPHERE in this first album is more close of the symphonic prog as for example the majority Teru's Symphony albuns ( which shows a certain heavy-prog " flavoring". In real the heavy moments exists, like in overture of track 2 "Beyond Love" and in some moments with the electric guitar prominence, another peculiarity of this track is keyboard brief solo (starting 3 min 50 sec which remind Tony Banks style, in "Cinema Show" a epic track from GENESIS . In track 3 "Another Dawn is Breaking/" some parts of keyboards arrangements assumes something of electronic music, because the scale seems make by a programing sequence. The track 4 "Holy Ground Ceremony" is best theme of whole album; divided in several parts some of a "dose" of swing ! The last track " At Last Moment" is composed by CAMEL inspiration . In resume the album don't show no "weak" moment , the musicians are very good and if this album isn't a masterpiece, deserves a decent quotation . So, my rate is 4 stars !!!