ENGINES OF CREATION

This is my first review of this Swedish neo prog band even though I know them for quite some time now. Galleon is a very skilled band but their Achilles' heel is the lyrics. By now I heard about 4 albums by this band but in practically all cases the lyrics are politically loaded or society critical sometimes even human critical. On itself nothing to get upset about but probably not everybody is equally charmed with them. And this feature is very noticeable on this release as well. Enigines of Creation is a very critical album directed against governments and multinationals. If you have no problem with such lyrics you are in for a real treat here because instrumentally and compositionwise this is a great album.

First track is a very pleasant short instrumental called A.I., a nice warm up for what is to come (3,5*).

Next is The Assemblers, a pretty fierce song, not yet quite in the beginning but in the second half there are some raging moments. The tone is set with this one (4*).

Third track, Signals at first seems to be a bit more quiet but also here the second half it gets rougher and rougher, another cracker (3,75*).

Fourth up is the title track starting with a sort of seventies soul rhythm accompanied by vocals and other instruments but the rhythm stays all through the song. Interesting element created by Galleon here. Very nice song by the way with great guitar halfway down and also near the end(3,75*).

State Insane is of the best examples of the lyrics I was talking about. The title says it all actually. Musically the song is somewhat less despite a nice guitar solo towards the end (3,5*).

Fog City is a more keyboard/organ dominated song, not quite the best of the album but not really bad either (3,25*).

The Cinnamon Hideaway is a short instrumental interlude with a bit of gloomy atmosphere. I do believe I hear a machine on the background, something like in Welcome to the machine by Pink Floyd. It's probably the engine from the title (3*).

Men & Monsters is the highlight to me and also the prime example of human-critical lyrics. That's what they are singing about all through the song, first half gives the impression the whole thing has a problem to get really started but in the second half (or better the 4th quarter) it really does and make up for that 100% (4,25).

Machine Mother is another heavy track where the band is firing at all cilinders but in this they do it all through the song except in the middle. Another excellent composition with variation and all instruments get the chance to excell. Fantastic track again and 2nd highlight (4,25*).

With Lightworks the band decided for a worthy closer, another critical song also confirming my statement in the introduction. And another very good song (4*).

So two significant features determining this album: critical lyrics and a pretty heavy sound. I personally especially like the second element but since also the compositions are really excellent on this album I have no doubt whatsoever about the rating: 4 stars.