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

3.5 stars. Andy Kuntz singer for VANDEN PLAS put this "one-off" project together after the death of his father, uncle and two friends all in one year(2002). Andy has been the lead singer in famous musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Nostradamus and Rocky Horror Picture Show. So in this huge undertaking he has combined his love for threater with the subject of death. ABYDOS was the burial place in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt where people would go to pay homage to Osiris god of reincarnation.They would pay homage by performing plays at this site. So you get the connection.The concept of this album is both complicated and indepth.There is a whole booklet explaining it with the cd. Obviously Andy used this project as therapy and to channel his mind and energy somewhere else. This was recorded the following year(2003). More importantly the music itself reminds me more of DREAM THEATER than any other band. He actually thanks them in the liner notes along with ANGRA. It really took quite a while for this album to win me over. The ballad-like singing he does reminded me too much of LaBrie who I like, but it's that part of DREAM THEATER that I don't like. Maybe that's why "Train Of Thought" is my favourite record from them. Anyway there are some amazing tunes on this album with lots of heavy parts. Some orchestration as well, and Andy gets help from his band's(VANDEN PLAS) drummer Andy Lill.

"The Inhabitants Of His Diary" is a short instrumental intro with some nice drumming and piano. "You Broke The Sun" features strummed guitar, reserved vocals and piano. Drums after a minute and a full sound before 2 minutes. A tasteful guitar solo a minute later followed by some orchestration. "Silence" is the first standout track for me. Heavy riffs to open that come and go. The tempo picks up on the chorus.The drums and synths go crazy before 4 minutes. A heavy guitar solo after 5 minutes. "Far Away From Heaven" features piano and fragile vocals before drums and a fuller sound after 2 minutes. Some orchestration too. "Coppermoon(The other side)" is a good uptempo tune with some heaviness. I like it. "Hyperion Sunset" has the heaviest sound so far, it comes and goes. Great track. "God's Driftwood" opens with lots of atmosphere that disappears when the reserved vocals arrive. Full sound 1 1/2 minutes in. Check out the bass as the drums pound away. Some aggressive guitar in this one as well.

"Radio Earth" is different as processed vocals and synths lead the way until Howe-like guitar melodies come in. Vocals join in.This is one of the more brighter and uplifting songs. I can tell you it changed my bad mood coming home from work today. Beautiful guitar after 4 minutes. "Abydos" opens with almost spoken vocals and it's dark. Some orchestration and heaviness 2 minutes in. After 3 minutes it calms right down to piano notes only before it starts to build back up. I love it when he sings "And the sun is shining". Great ending as well. The next song is a short processed vocal track. "Wildflowersky" opens heavily before vocals come in. Some nice organ runs throughout this one. A good uptempo melody 5 minutes in with some fantastic drumming. It gets heavy 6 minutes in with some scorching guitar followed by a ripping solo a minute later. "A Boy Named Fly" is the longest and best song on here. Piano to open as it turns solemn fast including the vocals. Crunchy guitar and heaviness 2 1/2 minutes in. It calms right down 4 minutes later with piano. Heaviness returns after 9 minutes. Female vocals a minute later before Andy ends it with reserved vocals.

I think DREAM THEATER fans will really like this, and of course VANDEN PLAS fans.