THE GATES OF OMEGA

I have only moderately appreciated the first two albums of this Italian band and I was not really sure that a double album would be the best experience. But anyway, since I started, I might as well describe my feelings about it.

IMHHO, the best moment of the first CD, is the closing part of "Five Years" (nothing to do with a song from whom you might know of course). Two short minutes...

Then the title track.Over twenty-seven minutes! This song is mostly TD oriented (like during their great trilogy) before the dull part (some eight minutes or so) and fully Floydian after it ("Echoes").

But to solidly borrow TD music almost thirty-five years after "Phaedra", "Rubycon" and "Ricochet" (that's MY trilogy at least) is not very interesting. Pleasantly played that's true, but no more. The Floydian part now. Quite well performed, even good but not reaching the grandeur of the masters of course.

To say that CD two starts with a powerful track would be exaggerated. "Home Sweet Home" is a looooooooooong and rather dull song. It reminds me of the poorest Mark II Marillion and their soporific, uninspired music. Some typical neo-prog synth at half time (or thereabouts) and a more dynamic passage could have indicated some improvement but the band will quickly revert to its flaw mood.

Repetitiveness and dullness are on the rendez-vous with "Castles Of sand". For over eleven minutes. Help! Now, be ready to face seventeen minutes of "Stars & Tears". If some short guitar solo and very good mellotron parts are real good, the truth is to say that these are lasting for less than five minutes. You can add some fully "Genesis" oriented keys (including a rip-off of "Watcher") and you get the picture.

No doubt that if you are in love with "Marbles" (which is NOT my case), you might be appealed by this work. I wouldn't be as harsh as some fellow reviewers; but still, this album is hard to swallow in one full and straight listening. Hundred minutes of this treat is not what I could call an enjoyable musical experience. I didn't have a pleasant evening while listening to this lenghty album.

The closing number Moonsong - The Conclusion is another uninspired track. Extremely repetitive again (sorry for being as repetitive as this album, can't avoid it!). Do not hurry up to listen to this one.

Two stars.