RITUALS

Standard neo-prog stuff by this Finnish band. Not great but not worse than many. The mid- nineties were probably not the best for prog music but still, on the Scandinavian scene there were other calibre than "Ageness" available (but in other prog styles).

Easy listening affair, with here and there some ups ("Forever returns") and downs ("Chainsaw Murders" which is a rather dull little neo-jazzy-prog item). All the classic sounds of the genre are offered: Banks oriented keyboards (while they were three), Gabriel-esque type of vocals, powerful drumming and short electric guitar interventions (the upbeat "Freeways").

Most songs are shortly formatted and sounds more prog pop tunes (except were mentioned). Vocals are mostly annoying, as if the lead vocalist was forcing his "organ". The heavy "Polyphemus" is one example out of many of this "feature". It's a pity because it could have been a good song (very good backing band: bass and keys mainly).

There are much better neo-prog albums out there before being interested by this one (but that's exactly my case since is my 270th review of a neo-prog album). I like the genre, but mainly the classics. This is not a classic of course. It is OK while you listen to it without paying too much attention in your car or while preparing lunch?

Sub-par IQ-ish during "Hidden Space" but with much less charisma (no play on words here!), some sort of second "Solsbury Hill" for "Take Us All", a strong feel of "And Then There Were Three" for the average "Silent Partners", a tentative of "Harold The Barrel" for "Problems" and you get the picture!

The best song from this album is the closing "Mortal Wings Of Sin II". Why "II" would you say, since there is no "I" featured on this work? Well, it is only because there was already a song called " Mortal Wings of Sin" featured on their pre-debut album "Scarab" which was the first incarnation of "Ageness".

Part one was more melodic, but the song featured here is quite alright; especially thanks to some very good guitar breaks. Nothing from the other world though.

Two stars for this globally average album.