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Adventure - Beacon of Light CD (album) cover

BEACON OF LIGHT

Adventure

 

Symphonic Prog

3.38 | 34 ratings

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TenYearsAfter
3 stars 'Dynamic vintage keyboard layered Norwegian Heavy Prog'

Here's a band from Norway, founded in the early Nineties, in 2000 Adventure released their eponymous debut album, then it took nine years to produce this successor entitled Beacon Of Light (2009). And we had to wait another five years for their third album entitled Caught In The Web. This review is about their second album Beacon Of Light.

The 13 compositions on Beacon Of Light are layered with the sound of vintage keyboards: the Hammond organ, Mellotron violin ' and choir section and especially the Minimoog synthesizer. The atmospheres are often heavy and bombastic, with hints of Heavy Prog bands like Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow and Dutch pride Ayreon. Due to the raw, slightly theatrical male vocals and frequent Minimoog flights also early Rick Wakeman solo comes to my mind.

For me the interesting element in Adventure their music is the contrast between the omni-present Heavy Prog sound (loaded with wah-wah guitar, sumptuous Hammond organ and fat Minimoog flights), the mellow atmospheres (featuring acoustic - and classical guitar, flute, Grand piano and cello) and the slow rhythms with wonderful, very sensitive electric guitar work.

My highlight is the long, varied and compelling title track (Part 2). From the intro with flute and soaring keyboards to a bombastic keyboard sound with fat Minimoog runs and mindblowing Hammond (evoking Jon Lord), majestic choir- Mellotron drops. And in the end a slow rhythm with fiery wah wah guitar and again bombastic keyboards, goose bumps!

In general this Norwegian formation succeeds to generate a lot of excitement with their tasteful arranged compositions, embellished with glorious sounding vintage keyboards and exciting wah-wah drenched guitar play. Especially recommended to Heavy Prog fans.

My rating: 3,5 star.

TenYearsAfter | 3/5 |

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