IMAGINE

Man I love this album. I was reminded of a heavier ENCHANT with the melodic songs and great vocals. An AOR flavour to this music for sure, and yes there's even an eighties Metal vibe going on. Yet this band just blows the doors off with their complex and heavy play. The lyrics are incredible as well. I really connect emotionally with the words here, it's often quite uplifting.The singer has a very strong voice, but it's the instrumental work that is so jaw dropping throughout.

"Imagine" is one of those songs that lyrically is so meaningful to me. The mellow intro with those background synths is absolutely crushed by heavy drums and then a full sound as the guitar comes in ripping it up. Vocals follow with power. Check out the guitar solo before 3 1/2 minutes, followed by a more aggressive solo before 4 minutes. This one simply rocks. "Alive" opens with someone trying to find something good on the radio. Speed of light guitar melodies follow with pounding drums. It settles down as vocals come in. After 3 1/2 minutes it's hard and heavy with some fantastic instrumental work. This song is about driving around and listening to music and feeling so alive. I can relate. "Endevour To Persevere" is uptempo instrumental with some Jasun Tipton-like guitar early. A nice heavy, fast paced rhythm with background synths leads the way. Blistering guitar 1 1/2 minutes in when the tempo changes. This is a killer instrumental work out. It blends into "How Far" where the heaviness continues. Reserved vocals come in as it settles. This contrast continues. I like the soaring vocals and the heaviness that comes and goes. Great tune.

"Role Model" opens with a light melody that is copied by a heavier one. Nice. A stampede of drums and bass comes in after a minute. It becomes mellow with piano and reserved vocals before 2 minutes. Heaviness is back 4 1/2 minutes in with complex guitar melodies. "The Waiting" opens with a blast of instrumental music before reserved vocals come in. They get more passionate as does the music especially after 3 minutes. "Ion Drive" is another instrumental. Complex guitar to open with ground shaking drums and bass. Organ a minute in. The guitar rips it up throughout,and check out the drumming 3 minutes in. "Face The Day" opens with pounding drums followed by some beautiful guitar. Reserved vocals take over with keys. It gets heavier a minute in as contrast continues. Very uplifting at times. Crushing section before 3 1/2 minutes. Man the drums are heavy 5 1/2 minutes in. "Time" opens with fragile vocals and piano. Some cool vocal harmonies follow. Beautiful guitar solo before the fragile vocals with light drums are back. It kicks into gear 2 minutes in. Contrast continues. Love the guitar 4 minutes in. Those vocal harmonies end it.

I can see some people not liking this because of the AOR flavour, but this also reaches close to ZERO HOUR territory at times. For me it's a solid 4 star, feel good album.